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My  Danish  Sweetheart 


THE  ROMANCE  OF  A MONTH. 


By  W.  CLARK  RUSSELL, 

Author  of  Marriage  at  Seaf  ^^The  Froxen  Pirate f Ek 


NEW  YORK : 

THE  F.  M.  LUPTON  PUBLISHING  COMPANY^ 
Nos.  72-76  Walker  Street. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


5 

CHAPTER  L 

> A SULLEN  DAY. 

On  the  morning  of  October  21,  in  a year  that  one  need  not 
count  very  far  back  to  arrive  at,  I was  awakened  from  a light 
sleep,  into  which  I had  fallen  after  a somewhat  restless  night, 
by  a sound  as  of  thunder  some  little  distance  ofl,  and  on  going 
to  my  bedroom  window  to  take  a view  of  the  weather,  I beheld 
so  wild  and  forbidding  a prospect  of  sea  and  sky  that  the  like 
of  it  is  not  to  be  imagined. 

The  heavens  were  a dark,  stooping,  universal  mass  of  vapor 
— swollen,  moist,  of  a complexion  rendered  malignant  beyond 
belief  by  a sort  of  greenish  color  that  lay  upon  the  face  of  it. 
It  was  tufted  here  and  there  into  the  true  aspect  of  the  electric 
tempest;  in  other  parts,  it  was  of  a sulky,  foggy  thickness; 
\ and  as  it  went  down  to  the  sea-line  it  wore,  in  numerous 
C places,  a plentiful,  heavy,  dark  shading  that  caused  the  clouds 
upon  which  this  darkness  rested  to  look  as  though  their  heavy 
burden  of  thunder  was  weighing  their  overcharged  breasts 
A down  to  the  very  sip  of  the  salt. 

A small  swell  was  rolling  betwixt  the  two  horns  of  cliff  which 
framed  the  wide  bight  of  bay  that  1 was  overlooking.  The 
water  was  very  dark  and  ugly  with  its  reflection  of  the  greenish, 
^ sallowish  atmosphere  that  tinged  its  noiseless,  sliding  volumes. 

Yet,  spite  of  the  shrouding  shadow  of  storm  all  about,  the 
^^^horizon  lay  a clear  line,  spanning  the  yawn  of  ocean  and 
heaven  betwixt  the  foreland  points. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  seen  seaward;  the  bay,  too,  was 
- empty.  I stood  for  a little  while  watching  the  cloud  of  foam 
. made  by  the  swell  where  it  struck  upon  the  low,  black  ledge 
^ of  what  we  called  in  those  parts  Deadlow  Rock,  and  upon  the 
westernmost  of  the  two  fangs  of  reef  some  little  distance 
away  from  the  Deadlow  Rock,  and  named  by  the  sailors  here- 
abouts the  Twins;  I say  I stood  watching  this  small  play  of 
; white  water,  and  hearkening  for  another  rumble  of  thunder; 


4 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


but  all  remained  hushed — not  a breath  of  air — no  glance  of 
dumb  lightning. 

On  my  way  to  the  parlor  I looked  in  upon  my  mother,  now 
an  old  lady,  whose  growing  infirmities  obliged  her  to  keep  her 
bed  till  the  day  was  advanced.  1 kissed  and  greeted  her. 

“ It  seems  a very  dark,  melancholy  morning,  Hugh,^^  says 
she. 

“ Ay,  indeed,^^  1 answered.  “ 1 never  remember  the  like 
of  such  a sky  as  is  hanging  over  the  water.  Did  you  hear  the 
thunder  just  now,  mother?^^ 

She  answered  no;  but  then,  to  be  sure,  she  was  a little  deaf. 

“ I hope,  Hugh,^^  said  she,, with  a wistful  shake  of  her  head, 
and  smoothing  her  snow-white  hair  with  a hand  that  slightly 
trembled,  “ that  it  may  not  end  in  a life-boat  errand.  I had 
a wretched  dream  last  night.  I saw  you  enter  the  boat  and 
sail  into  the  bay.  The  sun  was  high  and  all  was  bright  and 
clear;  but  on  a sudden  the  weather  grew  black — dark  as  it  now 
is.  The  wind  swept  the  water  which  leaped  high  and  boiled. 
You  and  the  men  strove  hard  to  regain  the  land,  and  then  gave 
up  in  despair,  and  you  put  right  before  the  wind,  and  the 
boat  sped  like  an  arrow  into  the  gloom  and  haze;  and  just  be- 
fore she  vanished  a figure  rose  by  your  side  where  you  sat  steer- 
ing, and  gazed  at  me  thus  — she  placed  her  forefinger  upon 
her  lip  in  the  posture  of  one  commanding  silence.  “ It  was 
your  father,  Hugh:  his  face  was  full  of  entreaty  and  despair. 
She  sighed  deeply.  “ How  clearly  does  one  sometimes  see  in 
dreams!’^  she  added.  Never  was  your  father^s  face  in  his 
dear  life  more  distinct  to  my  eyes  than  in  this  vision. 

“ A Friday  night^s  dream  told  on  a Saturday said  I, 
laughing:  “ no  chance  of  its  coming  true,  though.  No  fear 
of  the  ‘ Janet  ^ — for  that  was  the  name  of  our  life-boat — 
“ blowing  out  to  sea.  Besides,  the  bay  is  empty.  There  can 
be  no  call.  And  supposing  one  should  come  and  this  weather 
should  burst  into  a hurricane,  I^d  rather  be  afloat  in  the 
‘ Janet  ^ than  in  the  biggest  ship  out  of  London  or  Liverpool 
docks;^^  and  so  saying  1 left  her,  never  giving  her  dream  or  her 
manner  another  thought. 

After  I had  breakfasted  I walked  down  to  the  esplanade  to 
view  the  “ Janet  as  she  lay  snug  in  her  house.  I was  her 
cockswain,  and  how  it  happened  that  I filled  that  post  I will 
here  explain. 

My  father,  who  had  been  a captain  in  the  merchant  service, 
had  saved  money,  and  invested  his  little  fortune  in  a couple  of 
ships,  in  one  of  which,  fifteen  years  before  the  date  of  this  story, 
he  nad  embarked  to  take  a run  in  her  from  the  river  Thames 


My  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


5 


to  Swansea,  where  she  was  to  fill  up  with  a cargo  for  a South 
American  port.  She  was  a brand-new  ship,  and  he  wished  to 
judge  of  her  sea-going  qualities.  When  she  had  rounded  the 
North  Foreland  the  weather  .thickened;  it  came  on  to  blow  a 

§ale  of  wind;  she  took  the  ground  somewhere  near  the  North 
and  Head,  and  of  twenty-three  people  aboard  of  her  fifteen 
perished,  my  father  being  among  those  who  were  drowned. 

His  brother^ — my  uncle,  George  Tregarthen — was  a well-to-do 
merchant  in  the  city  of  London,  and  in  memory  of  my  father’s 
death,  which  grieved  him  to  the  soul,  and  which,  with  the  loss  of 
the  others,  had  come  about  through  delay  in  sending  help  from 
the  land — for  they  fired  guns  and  burned  flares,  and  the  adja- 
cent light-ship  signaled  with  rockets  that  a vessel  was  ashore; 
but  all  to  no  purpose,  for  when  the  rescue  was  attempted  the 
ship  was  breaking  up,  and  most  of  her  people  were  corpses;  as 
I have  said — my  uncle,  by  way  of  memoralizing  his  brother’s 
death,  at  his  own  cost  presented  the  little  town  in  which  my 
father  had  lived  with  a life-boat,  which  he  called  the  “ Janet,” 
after  my  mother.  I was  then  too  young  to  take  a part  in  any 
services  she  rendered;  but  by  the  time  I had  reached  the  age  of 
twenty  1 was  as  expert  as  the  smartest  boatman  on  our  part  of 
the  coast,  and,  as  I claimed  a sort  of  captaincy  of  the  life-boat 
by  virtue  of  her  as  a family  gift,  I replaced  the  man  who  had 
been  her  cockswain,  and  for  the  last  two  years  had  taken  her 
helm  during  the  six  times  she  had  been  called  upon;^  and  not 
a little  proud  was  1 to  be  able  to  boast  that,  under  my  charge, 
the  Janet  ” in  those  two  years  had  rescued  twenty-three  men, 
five  women,  and  two  children  from  certain  death. 

No  man  could  love  his  dog  or  his  horse — indeed,  I may  say, 
no  man  could  love  his  sweetheart—  with  more  fondness  than  I 
loved  my  boat.  She  was  a living  thing,  to  my  fancy,  even 
when  she  was  high  and  dry.  She  seemed  to  appeal  to  me  out 
of  a vitality  that  might  well  have  passed  for  human,  to  judge 
of  the  moods  it  kindled  in  me.  I would  sit  and  view  her,  and 
think  of  her  afloat,  figure  some  dreadful  scene  of  shipwreck, 
some  furious  surface  of  seething  yeast,  with  a ship  in  the  heart 
of  it,  coming  and  going  amid  storms  of  spray;  and  then  I 
would  picture  the  boat  crushing  the  savage  surge  with  her 
shoulder,,  as  she  stormed  through  the  tremendous  play  of 
ocean  on  her  way  to  the  doomed  craft  whose  shrouds  were 
thick  with  men;  until  such  emotions  were  raised  in  me  that  I 
have  known  myself  almost  unconsciously  to  make  an  eager  step 
to  the  craft,  and  pat  her  side,  and  talk  to  her  as  though  she 
were  sentient  and  could  understand  my  caress  and  whispers. 
My  mother  was  at  first  strongly  opposed  to  my  risking  my  life 


6 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAHT. 


in  the  “ Janet/^  She  said  I was  not  a sailor,  least  of  all  was 
I of  the  kind  who  manned  these  boats,  and  for  some  time  she 
would  not  hear  of  mo  going  as  cockswain  in  her,  (3xcept  in  fine 
weather  or  when  there  was  little  risk.  But  when,  as  cockswain, 
I had  brought  home  my  first  little  load  of  precious  human 
freight — five  Spaniards  with  the  captain’s  wife  and  a little 
baby,  wrapped  in  a shawl,  against  her  heart — my  mother’s 
reluctance  yielded  to  her  pride  and  gratitude.  She  found  some- 
thing beautiful,  noble,  1 had  almost  said  divine,  in  this  life- 
saving— :n  this  plucking  of  poor  human  souls  from  the  horrible 
jaws  of  death — in  the  hope  and  joy,  too,  raised  in  the  heart 
of  the  shipwrecked  by  the  sight  of  the  boat,  or  in  the  support- 
ing animation  which  came  from  the  knowledge  that  the  boat 
would  arrive  in  time,  and  which  enabled  men  to  bear  up, 
when,  perhaps,  had  there  been  no  promise  of  a boat  coming 
to  them,  they  must  have  drooped  and  surrendered  their  spirits 
to  God. 

Well,  as  I have  said,  I went  down  to  the  esplanade,  where 
the  boat-house  was,  to  take  a look  at  the  boat,  which  was,  in- 
deed, my  regular  daily  custom,  one  1 could  find  plenty  of  lei- 
sure for,  since  I was  without  occupation,  owing  to  a serious  ill- 
ness that  had  balked  my  efforts  six  years  before,  and  that  had 
left  me  too  old  for  another  chance  in  the  same  way — and  with- 
out will,  either,  for  the  matter  of  that;  for  my  mother’s  income 
was  abundant  for  us  both,  and,  when  it  should  please  God  to 
take  her,  what  was  hers  would  be  mine,  and  there  was  more 
than  enough  for  my  plain  wants. 

Before  entering  the  house  1 came  to  a stand  to  light  a pipe 
and  cast  a look  around.  The  air  was  so  motionless  that  the 
fiame  of  the  match  I struck  burned  without  a stir.  I took 
notice  of  a slight  increase  in  the  weight  of  the  swell  which  came 
brimming  into  the  bay  out  of  the  wide,  dark  field  of  the  At- 
lantic Ocean:  for  that  was  the  sea  our  town  faced,  looking  due 
west  from  out  of  the  shadow  of  the  Cornwall  heights,  at  the 
base  of  which  it  stood— a small,  solid  heap  of  granite-colored 
buildings  dominated  by  the  tall  spire  of  the  church  of  St.  Sav- 
iour, the  gilt  cross  atop  of  which  gleamed  this  morning 
against  the  scowl  of  the  sky  as  though  the  beam  of  the  risen 
sun  rested  upon  it. 

The  dark  line  of  the  broad  esplanade  went  winding  round 
with  the  trend  of  the  shore  to  the  distance  of  about  a mile. 
The  dingy  atmosphere  gave  it  a coloring  of  chocolate,  and  the 
space  of  white  sand  which  stretched  to  the  wash  of  the  water 
had  the  glance  of  ivory  from  the  contrast.  The  surf  was  small, 
but  now  that  1 was  near  I could  catch  a note  in  the  nois^it 


MY  SWEETHEART. 


mrMle  as  it  foamed  lun  ulotidy  line  upon  the  sand,  which  made 
me  think  of  the  voice,  of  a distant  tenipet^t,  as  though  each  run- 
nt.cg  fold  brought  with  it,  from  far  past  the  sea-line,  someever- 
d;/ing  echo  of  the  hurricane^s  rage  there.  But  a man  had 
need  to  live  long  at  the  sea-side  to  catch  these  small  accents 
of  storm  in  the  fall  and  pouring  of  the  unvexed  breaker. 

A number  of  white- breasted  sea-gulls,  with  black-edged 
wings,  were  flying  close  in-shore  this  side  of  Dead  low  Eoek 
and  Twins:  their  posture  was  in  the  main  one  of  hovering  and 
peering,  and  there  was  a sort  of  subdued  expectancy  rather 
than  restlessness  in  their  motions;  but  they  frequently  uttered 
sharp  cries,  and  were  certainly  not  a-fishing,  for  they  never 
stooped.  Within  a stone's-throw  of  the  life-boat  house  was  a 
coast-guard ^s  hut,  a little  place  for  keeping  a lookout  from, 
marked  by  a flag-post;  and  the  preventive  man,  with  a tele- 
scope under  his  arm,  stood  in  the  door-way,  talking  to  an  aged 
boatman  named  Isaac  Jordan.  The  land  past  that  flag-staff 
went  in  a rise,  and  soared  into  a very  noble  height  of  dark  cliff, 
the  extremity  of  which  we  called  Hurricane  Point.  It  looked 
a precipitous,  deadly,  inhospitable  terrace  of  rocks  in  the  dis- 
mal light  of  that  leaden  morning.  The  foreland  rose  out  of 
the  bed  of  foam  which  was  kept  boiling  at  the  iron  base  by 
the  steadfast  hurl  of  the  Atlantic  swell;  3^et  Hurricane  Point 
made  a fine  shelter  of  our  bay  when  the  wind  came  out  from 
the  north,  and  I have  seen  the  sea  there  bursting  and  soaring 
into  the  air  in  volumes  of  steam,  and  the  water  a mile  and  a 
half  out  running  wide  and  wild  and  w-hite  with  the  Vvhipping 
of  the  gale,  when,  within,  a wherry  might  have  strained  to 
her  painter  without  shipping  a cupful  of  water. 

There  was  an  old  timber  pier  going  into  the  sea  from  off  a 
projection  of  land,  upon  the  northernmost  point  of  which  the 
life-boat  house  stood;  this  pier  had  a curl  like  the  crook  of  a 
sailor’s  rheumatic  forefinger;  but  it  was  not  possible  to  find 
any  sort  of  harbor  in  the  rude,  black,  gleaming  embrace  of  its 
pitched  and  weedy  piles,  save  in  smooth  and  quiet  weather. 
It  was  an  old  pier,  and  had  withstood  the  wash  and  shocks  of 
fifty  years  of  the  Atlantic  billow — enough  to  justify  a man  in 
staring  at  it,  since  ours  was  a wild  and  stormy  seaboard, 
where  everything  had  to  be  as  strong  as  though  we  w’^ere  at  sea, 
and  had  the  mighty  ocean  itself  to  fight.  At  times  a collier 
would  come  sailing  round  Bishopnose  Point,  a tall,  reddish-hued 
bluff  past  Deadlow  Eock,  and  slide  within  the  curve  of  the 
pier,  and  discharge  her  freight.  Here,  too,  in  the  seasons, 
might  be  seen  a cluster  of  fishing-boats,  mainly  the  sharp- 
eii&d  luggers  of  I^enzjance;  but  this  morniiig,  as  I have  ai* 


8 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


ready  said,  all  was  vacant  from  the  horizon  to  the  white  sweep 
of  sand^ — vacant,  and,  in  a manner,  motionless  too,  with  the 
quality  of  stagnation  that  came  into  the  picture  out  of  the 
sullen,  breathless,  gloom-laden  atmosphere,  nothing  stirring, 
as  it  seemed,  save  the  heave  of  the  swell,  and  a few  active 
figures  of  ^longshoremen  down  by  the  pier  hauling  up  their 
boats  high  and  dry  upon  the  sand,  with  an  eye  to  what  was 
coming  in  the  weather. 

I entered  the  life-boat  house  and  killed  ten  minutes  or  so  in 
surveying  the  fabric  inside  and  out,  and  seeing  that  everything 
was  in  readiness  should  a call  come.  A ship’s  barometer — a 
good  instrument— hung  against  the  wall  or  bulkhead  of  the 
wooden  edifice.  The  mercury  was  low,  with  a depression  in 
the  surface  of  the  metal  itself  that  was  like  emphasizing  the 
drop. 

Our  manner  of  launching  the  “ Janet was  by  means 
of  a strong  timber  slipway  that  went  into  a pretty  sharp  de- 
clivity from  the  forefoot  of  the  boat  to  some  fathoms  past  low- 
water  mark.  There  could  be  no  better  way  of  getting  her 
water-borne.  The  sand  was  flat;  there  was  little  to  be  done 
with  a heavy  boat  on  such  a platform,  let  us  have  laid  what 
greased  woods  or  rollers  we  choose  under  her  keel.  But  from 
the  elevation  of  her  house  she  fled,  when  liberated,  like  a gull 
into  the  rage  of  the  water,  topping  the  tallest  comber,  and 
giving  herself  noble  way  in  the  teeth  of  the  deadest  of  in-shore 
hurricanes. 

As  1 stood  at  the  head  of  this  slipway,  looking  along  it  to 
where  it  buried  itself  in  the  dark  and  sickly  green  of  the 
flowing  heave  of  the  sea,  old  Isaac  Jordan  came  slowly  away 
from  the  coast-guardsman  and  saluted  me  in  a voice  that 
trembled  under  the  burden  of  eighty-five  years.  Such  another 
quaint  old  figure  as  this  might  have  been  hunted  for  in  vain  the 
whole  coast  round.  His  eyes,  deep-seated  in  his  head,  seemed  to 
have  been  formed  of  agate,  so  stained  and  clouded  were  they 
by  time,  by  weather,  and,  no  doubt,  by  drink.  His  tall  hat 
was  bronzed  with  wear  and  exposure,  the  skin  of  his  face  lay 
like  a cobweb  upon  his  lineaments,  and  when  he  smiled  he 
exhibited  a single  tobacco-stained  tooth,  which  made  one  think 
of  Deadlow  Eock.  Isaac  did  not  belong  to  these  parts,  yet  he 
had  lived  in  the  place  for  above  half  a century,  having  been 
brought  ashore  from  a wreck  in  which  he  had  been  found,  the 
only  occupant,  lying  senseless  upon  the  deck.  When  he  had 
recovered  he  was  without  memory,  and  for  five  years  could  not 
have  told  his  father’s  name  nor  the  place  he  hailed  from. 
When  at  last  recollection  returned  to  him  he  was  satisfied  to 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


remain  in  the  corner  of  this  kingdom  on  which  the  ocean,  so 
to  speak,  had  cast  him,  and  for  fifty  years  he  had  never  gone 
half  a mile  distant  from  the  town  unless  seaward,  and  then 
never  beyond  the  bay,  where  he  would  fish  for  his  own  feed- 
ing, or  ply  as  a carrier  between  the  shore  and  such  ships  as 
brought  up. 

‘‘  Good-marning,  Mr.  Tregarthen,^^  said  he  in  the  accent 
of  Whitstable,  which  was  his  native  place;  “ reckon  therefil 
be  some  work  afore  ye  if  so  be  as  this  here  muckiness  ain^t 
a-going  to  blow  away,^^  and  here  he  turned  up  his  marbled  eyes 
to  the  sky  in  a sort  of  blind,  groping  way. 

‘‘  1 never  remember  the  like  of  such  a morning  like  this, 
l«aac,^^  said  I,  going  down  to  him  that  1 might  not  oblige 
him  to  strain  his  poor  old  trembling  voice. 

“Lard  love  yel’^  he  exclaimed;  “scores  and  scores,  Mr. 
Tregarthen.  1 recollect  of  just  such  another  marning  as  this 
in  forty-four;  ay,  an^  an  uglier  marning  yet  in  thirty- three. 
That  were  the  day  when  the  ‘ Kingfisher  ^ went  down  and 
drownded  all  hands,  saving  the  dawg.^^ 

“ What^s  going  to  happen,  d^ye  think,  Isaac?^^ 

‘‘A  gale  o^  wind,  master,  but  not  yet.  He^s  a-bracing  of 
himself  up,  and  it^ll  be  all  day,  1 allow,  afore  he’s  ready;” 
and  once  again  he  cast  up  his  agate-like  eyes  to  the  sky. 
“ What’s  the  day  o’  the  month,  sir?”  he  added,  with  a little 
briskening  up. 

“ October  the  twenty-first,  isn’t  it?” 

“Why,  Gor  bless  me!  yes,  an’  so  it  be!”  he  exclaimed, 
with  a face  whose  expression  was  rendered  spasmodic  by  an 
assumption  of  joyful  thought.  “ The  hanniversary  of  Tra- 
falgar, as  sure  as  my  name’s  Isaac!  On  this  day  Lord  Nelson 
was  killed.  Gor  bless  me!  to  think  of  it!  I see  him  now,” 
he  continued,  turning  his  eyes  blindly  upon  my  face.  “ There’s 
nothen  I forget  about  him.  There’s  his  sleeve  lying  beauti- 
fully pinned  agin  his  breast,  and  the  fin  of  his  decapitated 
harm  a- working  full  of  excitement  within;  there’s  his  cocked 
hat  drawed  down  ower  the  green  shade  as  lies  like  a poor  man’s 
plaister  upon  his  forehead;  there’s  his  one  eye  a-looking  through 
and  through  a man  as  though  it  were  a brad-awl,  and  t’other 
eye,  said  to  be  sightless,  a-imitating  of  the  seeing  one  till  ye 
couldn’t  ha’  told  which  was  which  for  health.  There  was 
spunk  in  the  werry  wounds  of  that  gent.  He  carried  his  losses 
as  if  they  were  gains.  What  a man!  There  ain’t  public- 
houses  enough  in  this  country,”  said  he,  “ to  drink  to  the 
memory  of  such  a gentle^^an’s  ^here  ai4"t9 


10 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


That^s  my  complaint,  master.  Not  public-houses  enough,  I 
says,  seeing  what  he  did  for  this  here  Britain. 

Though  nobody  in  Tintrenale  (as  I choose  to  call  the  town) 
in  the  least  degree  believed  that  old  Isaac  had  ever  met  Lord 
Nelson,  despite  his  swearing  that  he  was  five  years  old  at  the 
time  and  that  he  could  recollect  his  mother  hoisting  him  up 
in  her  arms  above  the  heads  of  the  crowd  to  view  “the  great 
admiral— I say,  though  no  man  believed  this  old  fellow,  yet 
we  all  listened  to  his  assurances,  as  though  very  willing  to 
credit  what  he  said.  In  truth,  it  pleased  us  to  believe  that 
there  was  a man  in  our  little  community  who  with  his  own  eyes 
had  beheld  the  famous  sailor,  and  we  let  the  thing  rest  upon 
our  minds  as  a sort  of  honorable  tradition  which  we  would 
not  very  willingly  have  disturbed.  However,  more  went  to 
this  talk  of  Nelson  in  old  Isaac  than  met  his  ear;  it  was,  in- 
deed, his  way  of  asking  for  a drink,  and,  as  he  had  little  or 
nothing  to  live  upon  save  what  he  could  collect  out  of  charity, 
I slipped  a couple  of  shillings  into  his  hand,  for  which  he  con- 
tinued to  God  bless  me  till  his  voice  failed  him. 

I held  my  gaze  fixed  upon  the  sky  for  some  time  to  gather, 
if  possible,  the  direction  in  which  the  great  swollen  canopy  of 
cloud  was  moving,  that  I might  know  from  what  quarter  to 
expect  the  wind  when  it  should  arise;  but  the  sullen  greenish 
heaps  of  shadow  hung  over  the  land  and  sea  as  motionless  as 
they  were  dumb.  Not  the  least  loose  wing  of  scud  was  there 
to  be  seen  moving.  It  was  a wonderfully  breathless  heaven 
of  tempestuous  gloom,  with  the  sea  at  its  confines  betwixt  the 
two  points  of  land  looking  to  lift  to  it  in  its  central  part  as 
though  swelled,  owing  to  the  illusion  of  the  line  of  livid  shade 
there,  and  to  a depression  on  either  side  caused  by  a smoky 
commingling  of  the  atmosphere  with  the  spaces  of  water. 

While  I stood  surveying  the  murky  scene,  that  was  gradu- 
ally growing  more  dim  with  an  insensible  thickening  of  the 
air,  several  drops  of  rain  fell,  each  as  large  as  a half  crown. 

“ Stand  by  now  for  a flash  o'’  lightning, old  Isaac  cried, 
in  his  trembling  voice;  “ wance  them  clouds  is  ripped  up,  all 
the  water  they  holdall  tumble  down  and  make  room  for  the 
wind!^’ 

Biif  there  was  no  lightning.  The  rain  ceased.  The  still- 
ness seemed  to  deepen  to  my  hearing,  with  a fancy  to  my 
consciousness  of  a closer  drawing  together  of  the  shadows  over- 
head. 

‘‘  ^T^ainT  so  werry  W'arm,  neither,’^  said  old  Isaac;  “and 
yet  here  be  as  true  a tropic  show  as  old  Jamaikey  herself  could 
prowida 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


11 


Every  sound  was  startlingly  distinct — the  calls  and  cries  of 
the  fellows  near  the  pier  as  they  ran  their  boats  up;  the  grit 
of  the  keels  on  the  hard  sand^  like  the  noise  of  skates  traveling 
on  ice;  the  low,  organ-like  hum  of  the  larger  surf,  beating 
upon  the  coast  past  Bishopnose  Point;  the  rattle  of  vehicles  in 
the  stony  streets  behind  me;  the  striking  of  a church-bell;  the 
hoarse  bawling  of  a hawker  crying  fish;  it  was  like  the  hush 
one  reads  of  as  happening  before  an  earthquake,  and  1 own  to 
an  emotion  of  awe  and  even  of  alarm  as  I stood  listening  and 
looking. 

I hung  about  the  boat-house  for  hard  upon  two  hours,  ex- 
pecting every  minute  to  see  the  white  line  of  the  wind  sweep- 
ing across  the  sea  into  the  bay;  for  by  this  time  1 had  per- 
suaded myself  that  what  motion  there  was  above  was  Out  of 
the  westward;  but  in  all  that  time  the  glass-smooth,  dark- 
green  surface  of  the  swell  was  never  once  tarnished  by  the 
smallest  breathing  of  air.  Only  one  particular  that  was 
absent  before  I now  took  notice  of:  I mean  a strange,  faint, 
salt  smell,  as  of  sea- weed  in  corruption,  a somewhat  sickly  odor 
of  ooze.  I had  never  tasted  the  like  of  it  upon  the  atmosphere 
here;  what  it  signified  I could  not  imagine.  One  of  my  boat^s 
crew,  who  had  paused  to  exchange  a few  words  with  me  about 
the  weather,  called  it  the  smell  of  the  storm,  and  said  that  it 
arose  from  a distant  disturbance  working  through  the  sea 
through  leagues  and  leagues,  as  the  dews  of  the  body  are  dis- 
charged through  the  pores  of  the  skin. 

The  same  man  had  walked  up  to  the  heights  near  to  Hurri- 
cane Point  to  take  a view  of  the  ocean,  and  now  told  me  there 
was  nothing  in  sight,  save  just  a gleam  of  sail  away  down  in 
the  north-west,  almost  swallowed  up  in  the  gloom.  He  was 
without  a glass,  and  could  tell  me  no  more  than  that  it  was  the 
canvas  of  a ship. 

“ Well,^^  said  I,  ‘‘nothing,  if  it  be  not  steam,  is  going  to 
show  itself  in  this  amazing  calm.  And,  saying  this,  1 turned 
about  and  walked  leisurely  home. 

We  dined  at  one  o^clock.  We  were  but  two,  mother  and 
son ; and  the  little  picture  of  that  parlor  arises  before  me  as  1 
write,  bringing  moisture  to  my  eyes  as  1 recall  the  dear,  good, 
tender  heart  nevermore  to  be  beheld  by  me  in  this  world — as 
I see  the  white  hair,  the  kindly  aged  face,  the  wistful  looks 
fastened  upon  me,  and  hear  the  little  sighs  that  would  softly 
break  from  her  when  she  turned  her  head  to  send  a glance 
through  the  window  at  the  dark,  malignant  junction  of  sea  and 
sky  ruling  the  open  between  the  points,  and  at  the  frequent 
flashing  of  the  foam  on  those  evil  rocks  airinuing  upon  the  ^av« 


MY  MKISII  SWEETHEAH#. 


ing  waters  away  down  to  the  southward.  I could  perceive 
that  the  memory  of  her  dream  lay  upon  her  in  a sort  of 
shadow.  Several  times  she  directed  her  eyes  from  my  face 
to  t^e  portrait  of  my  father  upon  the  wall  opposite  her.  Yet 
she  did  not  again  refer  to  the  dream.  She  talked  of  the  ugly 
appearance  of  the  sky,  and  asked  what  the  men  down  upon  the 
pier  thought  of  it. 

“ They  are  agreed  that  it  is  going  to  end  in  a gale  of  wind/^ 
I answered. 

“ There  is  no  ship  in  the  bay,^^  said  she,  raising  a pair  of 
gold-rimmed  glasses  to  her  eyes  and  peering  through  the  win- 
dow. 

“ No, said  I;  “and  the  sea  is  bare,  saving  a single  sail 
somevvhere  down  in  the  north-west. 

She  smiled,  as  though  to  a piece  of  good  news.  There  could 
be  no  summons  for  the  life-boat,  she  knew,  if  the  bay  and 
the  ocean  beyond  remained  empty. 

After  dinner,  while  I sat  smoking  my  pipe  close  against  the 
fire — for  the  leaden  color  in  the  air  somehow  made  the  atmos- 
phere feel  cold,  though  we  were  too  far  west  for  any  touch 
of  autumnal  rawness  just  yet — and  while  my  mother  sat  op- 
posite me,  poring  through  her  glasses  upon  a local  sheet  that 
told  the  news  of  the  district  for  the  week  past — the  rector  of 
Tintrenale,  the  Eev.  John  Trembath,  happening  to  pass  our 
window,  which  was  low-seated,  looked  in,  and,  spying  the 
the  outline  of  my  figure  against  the  fire,  tapped  upon  the  glass, 
and  I called  to  him  to  enter. 

“ Well,  Mr.  Cockswain,^^  says  he,  “how  is  the  weather 
going  to  end,  pray?  I hear  there’s  a ship  making  for  this  bay.’^ 

“ 1 hope  not,’’  says  my  mother,  quietly. 

“ How  far  distant  is  she?”  said  1. 

“ Why,”  he  answered,  “ I met  old  Eoscorla  just  now.  He 
was  fresh  from  Bishopnose  way,  and  told  me  that  there  was  a 
square-rigged  vessel  coming  along  before  a light  air  of  wind 
out  of  the  west,  and  apparently  heading  straight  for  this  bight.  ” 

“ She  may  shift  her  helm,”  said  1,  who,  liiough  no  sailor, 
had  yet  some  acquaintance  with  the  terms  of  Llie  sea;  “ thereTl 
be  no  shelter  lor  her  here  if  it  comes  on  to  blow  from  the 
west.” 

“ And  that’s  where  it  is  coming  from,”  said  Mr.  Trembath. 

“ Oh,  for  a little  break  of  the  sky,  for  one  brief  gleam  of 
sunshine!”  cried  my  mother,  suddenly,  half  starting  from 
her  chair  as  if  to  go  to  the  window.  “ There  is  something  in 
a day  of  this  kind  that  de2)ressos  my  heart  as  though  sorrow 


MT  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  13 

were  coming.  Do  you  believe  in  dreams,  Mr.  Trembatli?'’  and 
now  I saw  she  was  going  to  talk  of  her  dream. 

“ No/^  said  he,  bluntly;  “ it  is  enough  to  believe  in  what  is 
proper  for  our  spiritual  health.  A dream  never  yet  saved  a 
soul.^^ 

‘^Do  you  think  so?^'  said  I.  “Yet  a man  might  get  a 
hint  in  a vision,  and  in  that  way  be  preserved  from  doing  a 
wrong. 

“ What  was  your  dream?^^  said  Mr.  Trembath,  rounding 
upon  my  mother;  “ for  a dream  you  have  had,  and  I see  the 
recollection  of  it  working  in  your  face  as  you  look  at  me.^^ 

She  repeated  her  dream  to  him. 

“Tut!  tut!^^  cried  he,  “ a little  attack  of  indigestion.  A 
small  glass  of  your  excellent; sherry  brandy  would  have  cor- 
rected all  these  crudities  of  your  slumbering  imagination.^^ 

Well,  after  an  idle  chat  of  ten  minutes,  which  yet  gave  the 
worthy  gentleman  time  enough  to  drink  to  us  in  a glass  of  that 
cherry  &andy  which  he  had  recommended  to  my  mother,  he 
went  away,  and  shortly  afterward  1 walked  down  to  the  pier 
to  catch  a sight  of  the  ship.  In  all  these  hours  there  had  been 
no  change  whatever  in  the  aspect  of  the  weather.  The  sky  of 
dark  cloud  wore  the  same  swollen,  moist,  and  scowling  appear- 
ance it  had  carried  since  the  early  morn,  but  the  tufted  thun- 
der-colored heaps  of  vapor  had  been  smoothed  out  or  absorbed 
by  the  gathering  thickness  which  made  the  atmosphere  so  dark 
that,  though  it  was  scarcely  three  o^clock  in  the  afternoon,  you 
would  have  supposed  the  sun  had  set.  The  swell  had  increased ; 
it  was  now  rolling  into  the  bay  with  weight  and  volume,  and 
there  was  a small  roaring  noise  in  the  surf  already,  and  a 
deeper  note  yet  in  the  sound  of  it  where  it  boiled  seaward  past 
the  points.  A light  air  was  blowing,  but  as  yet  the  water  was 
merely  brushed  by  it  into  wrinkles  which  put  a new  dye  into 
the  color  of  the  ocean — a kind  of  inky  green — I do  not  know 
how  to  convey  it.  Every  glance  of  foam  upon  the  Twins  or 
Deadlow  Eock  was  like  a flash  of  white  fire,  so  somber  was  the 
surface  upon  which  it  played. 

Hurricane  Point  shut  out  the  view  of  the  sea  in  the  north- 
west, even  from  the  pier-head,  and  the  ship  was  not  to  be  seen. 
There  was  a group  of  watermen  on  the  lookout,  one  or  two  of 
them  members  of  the  life-boat  crew,  and  among  these  fellows 
was  old  Isaac  Jordan,  who,  as  I might  easily  guess,  had  drunk 
out  my  two  shillings.  He  wore  a yellow  sou^-wester  over  his 
Jong  iron-gray  hair,  and  he  lurched  from  one  man  to  another, 
with  his  arm  extended  and  his  fingers  clawing  the  air,  arguing 


14 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


in  the  ehrill  voice  of  old  age,  thickened  by  the  drams  he  had 
swallowed. 

1 tell  ^ee  tliere^s  going  to  be  a airthquake,  he  was  crying  as 
1 approached.  1 recollects  the  likes  of  this  weather  in  eighteen 
hiumerd  an^  eighteen,  and  there  was  a quake  at  midnight  that 
caused  the  folks  at  Faversham  to  git  out  of  their  beds  and 
run  into  the  street;  twor  felt  at  Whitstable,  and  turned  the 
beer  o^  th^  place  sour.  Stand  by  for  a airthquake,  I says. 
Here’s  Mr.  Tregarthen,  a scholard.  The  likes  of  me,  as  is  old 
enough  to  be  granddad  to  the  oldest  of  ye  all,  may  raison  with 
a scholard  and  be  satisfied  to  be  put  right  if  so  be  as  he’s 
wrong,  when  such  scowbankers  as  you  a’n’t  to  be  condescended 
to  outside  the  giving  of  the  truth  to  ye.  And  so  I says.  Mr. 
Tregarthen — ” 

But  I quietly  put  him  aside. 

“No  more  money  for  you,  Isaac,”  said  I,  “so  far  as  my 
purse  is  concerned,  until  you  turn  teetotaler.  It  is  enough 
to  make  one  blush  for  one’s  species  to  see  so  old  a man — ” 

“ Mr.  T^arthen,”  he  interrupted,  “ you’re  a gin’ man, 
ain’t  ye?  What  have  I ’ad.  Is  a drop  o’  milk  and  water 
going  to  make  ye  blush  for  a man?” 

Some  of  the  fellows  laughed. 

“And  how  often,”  he  continued,  “ is  the  hanniversary  of 
the  battle  o’  Trafalgar  a-going  to  come  round  in  a year? 
Trenty-voorst  of  October  to-day  is,  and  I see  him  now,  Mr. 
Tregarthen,  as  I see  you — his  right  fin  a-going,  his  borders 
upon  his  breast — ” 

“ Here,  Come  you  along  with  me,  Isaac!”  exclaimed  one  of 
the  men,  and,  seizing  the  old  fellow  by  the  arm,  he  bore  him  off. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A NIGHT  OE  STORM. 

I OVERHUNG  the  rail  of  the  pier,  looking  down  upon  the  heads 
of  the  breakers  as  they  dissolved  in  white  water  amid  the 
black  and  slimy  supporters  of  the  structure,  and  sending  a 
glance  from  time  to  time  toward  the  northern  headland  out  of 
which,  1 gathered  from  the  men  about  me,  the  ship  would 
presently  draw,  though  no  one  could  certainly  say  as  yet  that  she 
was  bound  for  our  bay,  spite  of  her  heading  direct  for  the  land. 
A half  hour  passed,  and  then  she  showed:  her  bowsprit  and 
jibbooms  came  forking  out  past  the  chocolate-colored  height 
of  clilT,  and  the  suddenness  of  thin  presentment  of  white  wings 
of  jiba  and  staysails  caused  the  canvas  to  look  gha^'Uy  for  the 


MY  DANISH  SWE-ETHEART. 


IS 


moment  against  the  dark  and  drooping  smoke-colored  sky  that 
overhung  the  sea  where  she  was — as  ghastly,  1 say,  as  the 
gleam  of  froth  is  when  seen  at  midnight,  or  a glance  of 
moonshine  dropping  spear-like  through  a rift  and  making  a 
little  pool  of  light  in  the  midst  of  a black  ocean. 

I watched  her  with  curiosity.  She  was  something  less  than 
three  miles  distant,  and  she  drew  out  very  stately  under  a full 
breast  of  sail,  rolling  her  three  spires — the  two  foremost  of 
which  were  clothed  to  the  trucks — with  the  majesty  of  a war- 
ship. We  might  now  make  sure  that  she  was  bound  for  the 
bay  and  meant  to  bring  up.  The  air  was  still  a very  light 
wind,  which  made  a continuous  wonder  of  the  muteness  of  the 
storm-shadow  that  was  overhead;  and  the  vessel,  which  we 
might  now  see,  was  a bark  of  six  hundred  tons  or  thereabouts, 
floated  into  the  bay  very  slowly.  Her  canvas  swung  as  she 
rolled,  and  made  a hurry  of  light  of  her,  and  one  saw  the  glint 
of  the  sails  broaden  in  the  brows  of  the  swell  which  chased  and 
underran  her,  so  reflective  was  the  water,  spite  of  the  small 
wrinkling  of  it  by  the  weak  draught. 

‘‘  A furriner,^^  said  a man  near  me. 

‘‘  Ay/^  said  I,  examining  her  through  a small  but  powerful 

Socket  telescope;  “that  green  caboose  doesn^t  belong  to  an 
Inglishman.  She’s  hoisting  her  color!  Now  I have  it — a 
Dane!” 

“ What  does  she  want  to  come  here  for?”  exclaimed  an- 
other of  the  little  knot  of  men  who  had  gathered  about  me. 
“ Something  wrong,  I allow.” 

“ Master  drunk,  per’aps,”  said  a third. 

“ He’ll  be  making  a lee  zhore  of  our  ugly  bit  of  coast,,  if  it 
comes  on  to  blow  from  the  westward,  and  if  not  from  there, 
then  where  else  it’s  coming  from  who’s  going  to  guess?”  ex- 
claimed a gruff  old  fellow  peering  at  the  vessel  under  a shaggy, 
contracted  brow. 

“ Her  captain  may  have  a trick  of  the  weather  above  our 
comprehension,”  said  1.  “If  the  gale’s  to  come  out  of  the 
north  he’ll  do  well  where  he  lets  go  his  anchor;  but  if  it’s  to 
be  the  other  way  about — well,  I suppose  some  of  our  chaps  will 
advise  him.  May  be  he  has  been  tempted  by  the  look  of  the 
bay;  or  he  may  have  a sick  or  a dead  man  to  land.” 

“ Perhaps  he  has  a mind  to  vind  us  a job  to-night,  zur,” 
said  one  of  my  life-boat’s  men. 

We  continued  watching.  Presently  she  began  to  shorten 
sail,  and  the  leisurely  manner  in  which  the  canvas  was  first 
clewed  up  and  then  rolled  up  was  assurance  enough  to  a nauti- 
cal eye  that  she  was  not  overmanned.  1 could  distingaish  the 


16 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


figure  of  a short,  squarely  framed  man,  apparently  giving  or- 
ders from  the  top  of  a long  house  aft,  and  I could  make  out  the 
figure  of  another  man,  seemingly  young,  flitting  to  and  fro 
with  a manner  of  idle  restlessness,  though  at  intervals  he 
would  pause  and  sweep  the  town  and  foreshore  with  his  tele- 
scope. 

About  this  time  five  men  launched  a swift,  powerful  boat  qf 
a whaling  pattern  off  the  sand  on  to  which  it  had  been  dragged 
that  morning,  far  beyond  high-water  mark.  They  ran  the 
little  fabric  over  a line  of  well-greased  planks  or  skids,  and 
sprung  into  her  as  her  bow  met  the  first  roll  of  water,  and  in 
a breath  their  oars  were  out  and  they  were  sweeping  the  boat 
toward  the  bark,  making  the  spray  spit  from  the  stem  to  the 
herculean  sweep  of  the  blades.  She  was  a boat  that  was 
mainly  used  for  these  errands — for  putting  help  aboard  ships 
which  wanted  it — for  taking  pilots  off  and  bringing  them 
ashore,  and  the  like.  So  slow  was  the  motion  of  the  bark  that 
she  was  still  floating  into  the  bay  with  her  anchors  at  the  cat- 
heads, and  a few  heads  of  men  along  the  yards  furling  the 
lighter  canvas,  when  the  boat  dashed  alongside  of  her.  When 
the  stranger  was  about  a mile  and  a half  distant  from  the  point 
of  the  pier  which  I watched  her  from,  she  let  go  her  topsail 
halyards — she  carried  single  sails— and  a few  minutes  later 
her  anchor  fell,  and  she  swung  slowly,  with  her  head  to  the 
swell  and  the  light  wind. 

Scarcely  was  she  straining  to  the  scope  of  cable  that  had  been 
paid  out  when  the  boat  which  had  gone  to  her  left  her  side. 
The  men  rowed  leisurely;  one  could  tell  by  the  rise  and  fall  of 
the  oars  that  their  errand  had  proved  a disappointment,  that 
there  was  nothing  to  be  earned,  nothing  to  be  done,  neither 
liclp  nor  counsel  wanted.  I walked  down  to  that  part  of  the 
sands  where  she  would  come  ashore,  but  had  to  wait  until  her 
crew  had  walked  her  up  out  of  the  water  before  I could  get  any 
news.  Our  town  was  so  dull,  our  habits  of  thought  so  primi- 
tive as  to  be  almost  child-like,  the  bay  for  long  spells  at  a time 
BO  barren  of  all  interests  that  the  arrival  of  a vessel,  if  it  were 
not  a smack  or  a collier,  excited  the  same  sort  of  curiosity 
among  us  as  a new-comer  raises  in  a little  village.  A ship 
bringing  up  in  the  bay  was  something  to  look  at,  something 
to  speculate  upon;  and  then,  again,  there  was  always  the  ex- 
pectation among  the  longshoremen  of  earning  a few  pounds  out 
of  lier. 

I called  to  one  of  the  crew  of  the  boat  after  she  had  been 
aecured  high  and  dry,  and  asked  him  the  name  of  the  vessel, 

“ The  ‘ A nine,  ^ says  ho. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


17 


**  What’s  wrong  with  her?”  said  L 

“ Nothing  but  fear  of  the  weather,  1 allow,”  said  he;  she’s 
from  Cuxhaven,  bound  to  Party  Alleggy,  or  some  such 
hole  away  down  in  the  Brazils.” 

“ Porto  Alegre,  is  it?”  said  L 

‘‘  Ay,”  he  answered,  “ that  zounds  nearer  to  the  name  that 
vur  given  to  us.  She’s  got  a general  cargo  aboard.  The 
master’s  laid  up  in  the  cabin;  the  chief  mate  broke  un’s  leg 
off  Texel,  and  they  zent  him  into  Partsmouth  aboard  of  a 
zmack.  The  shap  in  charge  calls  himself  Damm.  I onder- 
stood  he’z  carpenter  acting  as  zecond  mate.  But  who’s  to 
follow  such  a lingo  as  he  talks?” 

“ He’s  brought  up  here  with  the  master’s  sanction,  1 sup- 
pose?” 

“ Can’t  tell  you  that,”  he  answered,  “ for  I don’t  know. 
’Pears  to  me  as  if  this  here  traverse  was  Mr.  Damm’s  own 
working  out.  He’s  got  a cross-eye,  and  I don’t  rightly  like 
his  looks.  He  pointed  aloft  and  zhook  his  head,  and  made  us 
understand  that  he  was  here  for  zhelter.  Jimmy,”  meaning 
one  of  the  boat’s  crew,  “ pointed  to  the  Twins,  and  Mr.  Damm 
he  grins  and  says,  ‘ Yaw,  yaw,  dot’s  right!’  ” 

“But  if  he’s  bound  to  the  Brazils,”  I said,  “ how  does  it 
happen  that  he  is  on  this  side  the  Land’s  End?  Porto  Alegre 
isn’t  in  Wales.” 

Here  another  of  the  boat’s  crew  who  had  joined  us,  said, 
“ I understood  from  a man  who  spoke  a bit  of  English,  that 
they  was  bound  round  to  Swansea,  but  what  to  take  in,  atop 
of  a general  cargo,  I can’t  say.” 

The  sailors  aboard  the  vessel  were  now  slowly  rolling  the 
canvas  about  the  yards.  She  was  a wall-sided  vessel,  with  a 
white  figure-head  and  a square  stern,  and  she  pitched  so 
heavily  upon  the  swell  sweeping  to  her  bows  that  one  could 
not  but  wonder  how  it  would  be  with  her  when  it  came  on  to 
blow  in  earnest,  with  such  a sea  as  the  Atlantic  in  wrath  threw 
into  this  rock-framed  bight  of  coast.  She  rolled  as  regularly 
as  she  courtesied,  and  gave  us  a view  of  a band  of  new  metal 
sheathing  that  rose  with  a dull  rusty  gleam  out  of  the  water, 
as  though  to  some  swift  vanishing  touch  of  stormy  sunlight. 
The  white  lines  of  her  furled  canvas,  with  the  delicate  inter- 
lacery  of  shrouds  and  running-gear,  the  fine  fibers  of  her  slender 
mastheads  with  a red  spot  of  dog-vane  at  the  mizzen-mast — 
the  whole  body  of  the  vessel,  in  a word,  stood  out  with  an  ex- 
quisite clearness  that  made  the  heaving  fabric  resemble  a 
choicely  wrought  toy  upon  the  dark  tempestuous  green  which 


18 


DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


went  rising  and  falling  past  her,  and  against  the  low  and  men- 
acing frown  of  the  sky  beyond  her. 

A deeper  shadow  seemed  to  have  entered  the  atmosphere 
since  she  let  go  her  anchor.  Away  down  upon  her  port  quarter 
the  foam  was  leaping  upon  the  black  Twins  and  the  larger 
Eock  beyond,  and  the  round  of  the  bay  was  sharply  marked 
by  the  surf  twisting  in  a wool -white  curve  from  one  point  to 
another,  but  gathering  a brighter  whiteness  as  it  stretched 
toward  those  extremities  of  the  land  which  breasted  the  deeper 
waters  and  the  larger  swell. 

The  clock  of  St.  Saviour^s  Church  chimed  five — tea-time; 
and  as  I turned  to  make  my  way  home  two  bells  were  struck 
aboard  the  bark,  and  the  light  inshore  wind  brought  in  the 
distant  tones  upon  the  ear  with  a fairy  daintiness  of  faint 
music  that  corresponded  to  perfection  with  the  toy-like  appear- 
ance of  the  vessel.  One  of  the  crew  of  the  boat  accompanied 
me  a short  distance  on  his  way  to  his  own  humble  cottage  in 
Swim  Lane. 

“ If  that  D utch man, said  he — and  by  ‘‘ Dutchman  he 
meant  Dane,  for  this  word  covers  all  the  Scandinavian  nations 
in  Jack^s  language — ‘Mf  that  Dutchman,  Mr.  Tregarthen, 
knows  what^s  good  for  him,  he^ll  up  anchor  and  ‘ ratch  ^ out 
afore  it^s  too  late.*^ 

‘‘  Did  you  see  the  captain?^  ^ 

“ No,  sir.  He^s  in  his  cabin,  badly  laid  up.^^ 

“ I thought  I made  out  two  men  on  top  of  the  deck-house 
who  seemed  in  command — one  the  captain,  and  the  other  the 
mate,  as  I supposed. 

“ No,  sir;  the  capt’n^s  below.  One  of  them  two  men  you 
saw  was  the  carpenter,  Damm;  toother  was  a boy — a passenger 
he  looked  like,  though  dressed  as  a sailor  man.  I didn’t  hear 
him  give  any  orders,  though  his  eyes  seemed  everywhere,  and 
he  looked  to  know  exactly  what  was  going  forward.  A likelier- 
looking  lad  1 never  see.  Capt’n^s  son,  1 dare  say.^^ 

‘‘  Well,”  said  I,  sending  a glance  above  and  around, “ spite 
of  drunken  old  Isaac  and  his  prediction  of  ‘ airthquakes,^  as 
he  calls  them,  it’s  as  likely  as  not,  to  my  mind,  that  all  this 
gloom  will  end  as  it  began— in  quietude."’^ 

The  man,  one  of  the  most  intelligent  of  our  ^longshoremen, 
shook  his  head. 

“ The  barometer  don’t  tell  lies,  sir,”  said  he;  “ the  drop’s 
been  too  slow  and  regular  to  signify  nothing.  I’ve  known  a 
gale  o’  wind  to  bust  after  taking  two  days  to  look  at  the  ocean 
with  his  breath  sucked  in,  as  ho  do  now.  This  hero  long 
quietude’s  the  worst  part,  and — smother  mol  Mr.  Tregarthen, 


MY  BAKISH  SWEETHEART*  19 

said  he,  halting  and  turning  his  face  seaward,  “ if  the  draught 
that  was  just  now  blowing  ain^t  gone!^^ 

It  was  as  he  had  said.  The  light  breathing  of  air  had  died 
out,  and  the  swell  was  rolling  in,  burnished  as  liquid  glass. 

This  day-long  extraordinary  pause  in  the  most  menacing 
aspect  of  weather  that  I had  ever  heard  of — and  never  in  my 
time  had  1 seen  the  like  of  it — seemed  to  communicate  its 
own  quality  of  breathless  suspense  to  every  living  object  my  eye 
rested  upon.  The  very  dogs  seemed  to  move  with  a cowed  man- 
ner, as  though  fresh  from  a whipping.  There  was  no  alacrity; 
little  movement,  indeed,  anywhere  visible.  Men  hung  about 
in  small  groups  and  conversed  quietly,  as  though  some  trouble 
that  had  alB^ected  the  whole  community  was  upon  them.  The 
air  trembled  with  the  noise  of  the  breaking  surf,  and  there 
was  a note  in  its  voice,  sounding  as  it  did  out  of  the  unnatural 
dark  hush  upon  sea  and  land,  that  constrained  the  attention 
to  it  as  to  something  new  and  even  alarming.  A tradesman, 
with  his  apron  on  and  without  a hat,  would  come  to  his  shop 
door  and  look  about  him  uneasily,  and  perhaps  have  a word 
with  a customer  as  he  entered  before  going  round  to  the  coun- 
ter and  serving  himr  The  gulls  flew  close  inshore  and  screamed 
harshly.  Here  and  there,  framed  in  a darkling  pane  of  win- 
dow, you  would  see  an  old  face  peering  at  the  weather  and  pale 
in  the  shadow. 

1 found  my  mother  a good  deal  troubled  by  the  appearance 
of  the  ship.  She  asked,  with  a pettishness  I had  seldom  wit- 
nessed in  her,  ‘‘  What  does  she  want?  Why  does  she  come 
here?  Do  they  court  destruction?^^ 

I told  her  all  I had  learned  about  the  vessel. 

“ There  was  no  occasion  for  them  to  come  here,^^  she  said. 
“ Your  dear  father  would  have  told  you  that  the  more  distant 
a ship  is  upon  the  ocean  in  violent  weather  the  safer  she  is; 
and  here  now  come  the  foolish  Danes  to  nestle  among  rocks 
and  to  sneer  at  the  advice  our  people  give  them,  with  the  sky 
looking  more  threatening  than  ever  1 can  remember  it.  Who 
could  have  patience  with  such  fo)k?^^  she  cried,  pouring  out 
the  ten  with  an  air  of  distraction  and  an  agitated  hand.  “ If 
there  were  no  such  sailors  as  they  at  sea  I am  sure  there  would 
be  no  need  for  life-boats,  and  brave  fellows  would  not  have  to 
risk  their  lives,  and  perhaps  leave  their  wives  and  little  chil- 
dren to  starve,  to  assist  people  wdiose  stupidity  renders  them 
almost  unfit  to  be  rescued."’ 

“ Why,  mother/’  cried  I,  ‘‘  this  is  not  how  you  are  accus- 
tomed 10  talk  about  such  things,” 

“ 1 am  depressed,”  she  answered— my  spirits  have  taken 


20 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART, 


their  color  from  the  day.  A most  melancholy  heavy  day  indeed! 
Hark,  my  dear!  Is  not  that  the  sound  of  the  wind?^^ 

She  looked  eagerly,  straining  her  hearing. 

“ Yes,^^  said  I,  “ it  is  the  wind  come  at  last,  mother, catch- 
ing, at  the  instant  of  her  speaking,  the  hollow  groaning,  in  the 
chimney,  of  a sudden  gust  of  wind  flying  over  the  house-top. 
“ Prom  which  quarter  does  it  blow?  I must  find  oufc!^^ 

1 ran  to  the  house  door,  and  as  I opened  it  the  wind  blew 
with  the  sweep  of  a sudden  squall  right  out  of  the  darkness 
upon  the  ocean.  It  filled  the  house,  and  such  was  the  weight 
of  it  that  I drove  the  door  to  with  difficulty.  It  was  but  a 
quarter  before  six,  but  the  shadow  of  the  night  had  entered  to 
deepen  the  shadow  of  the  storm,  and  it  was  already  as  dark  as 
midnight.  I went  to  the  window  and  parted  the  curtains  to 
take  a view  of  the  bay,  but  the  panes  of  glass  were  made  a sort 
of  mirror  of  by  the  black  atmosphere  without,  and  when  I 
looked  they  gave  me  back  my  own  countenance,  darkly  gleam- 
ing, and  the  reflection  of  objects  in  the  room — the  lamp  with 
its  green  shade  upon  the  table,  the  sparkle  of  the  silver  and 
the  china  of  the  tea-things,  and  my  mother^s  figure  beyond. 
Yet,  by  peering,  I managed  to  distinguish  the  speck  of  yellow 
luster  that  denoted  the  riding  light  of  the  Danish  bark — the 
lantern,  I mean,  that  is  hung  upon  a ship^s  forestay  when  she 
lies  at  anchor;  otherwise  it  was  like  looking  down  into  a well. 
Nothing,  save  the  flash  of  the  near  foam  tumbling  upon  the 
beach  right  abreast  of  the  house  was  to  be  seen. 

Which  way  does  the  wind  come,  Hugh?^^  called  my  mother. 
“ Prom  the  westward,  with  a touch  of  south  in  it,  too,  right 
dead  inshore.  It  is  as  I have  been  expecting  all  day.^^ 

That  night  of  tempest  began  in  gusts  and  squalls,  with  lulls 
between  which  were  not  a little  deceptive,  since  they  made 
one  think  that  the  wind  was  gone  for  good,  though  while  the 
belief  was  growing  there  would  come  another  shrieking  outrush 
and  a low  roaring  in  the  chimney,  and  such  a shrill  and  dole- 
ful whistling  in  the  casements  which  there  was  no  art  in  car- 
pentry to  hermetically  seal  against  the  winds  of  that  wild, 
rugged  western  coast,  as  might  have  made  one  imagine  the  air 
to  be  filled  with  the  ghosts  of  departed  boatswains  plying  their 
silver  pipes  as  they  sped  onward  in  the  race  of  black  air. 

Some  while  before  seven  o^clock  it  had  settled  into  a gale, 
that  was  slowly  but  obstinately  gathering  in  power,  as  I might 
know  by  the  gradually  raised  notes  in  the  humming  it  made 
and  by  the  ever-deep^Miirio  thunder  of  warring  billows  rushing 
into  breakers  and  bursting  upon  sand  and  crag.  It  came  along 
\a  furious  play  of  wet,  too,  at  times;  the  rain  lashed  the 


Mf  RAI^ISH  SWECTHEAfef. 


windows  like  small  sliot,  and  twice  there  was  a brilliant  flash 
of  lighbiing  that  seemed  spiral  and  crimsoned;  but,  if  thunder 
followed,  it  was  lost  in  the  uproar  of  the  wind.  It  was  a night 
to  stand  by,^^  as  a sailor  would  say;  at  any  moment  a sum- 
mons might  come,  and,  while  that  weather  held,  1 knew  there 
must  be  no  sleep  for  me.  It  would  have  been  all  the  same, 
indeed,  bark  or  no  bark,  for  this  was  a night  to  make  a very 
hell  of  the  waters  along  our  line  of  coast;  there  was  not  an- 
other life-boat  station  within  twenty-five  miles,  and,  even  had 
the  bay  been  empty,  as  1 say,  yet,  as  cockswain  of  the  boat,  1 
must  have  held  myself  ready  for  a call— ready  for  the  notes  of 
the  bell  summoning  us  to  the  rescue  of  a vessel  that  had  been 
blown  out  of  the  sea  into  the  bay — ready  for  a breathless  ap- 
peal for  help  from  some  mounted  messenger  dispatched  by  the 
coast-guards  miles  distant  to  tell  me  that  there  was  a ship 
stranded  and  that  all  hands  must  perish  if  we  did  not  hurry  to 
her* 

My  mother  sat  silent,  with  her  face  rendered  austere  by 
anxiety.  It  was  about  eight  o^clock,  when  some  one  knocked 
hurriedly  at  the  door.  I ran  out,  being  too  eager  to  await  the 
arrival  of  the  servant;  but,  instead  of  some  rough  figure  of  a 
boatman  which  I had  expected  to  see,  in  swept  Mr.  Trembath, 
who  was  carried  by  the  violence  of  the  wind  several  feet  along 
the  passage  before  he  could  bring  himself  up.  I put  my 
shoulder  to  the  door,  but  believed  I should  have  had  to  call  for 
help  to  close  it,  so  desperate  was  the  resistance. 

“ What  a night!  What  a night cried  the  clergyman. 
“ What  is  the  news?  You  will  not  tell  me,  Tregarthen,  that 
the  ship  yonder  is  going  to  hold  her  own  against  this  wind  and 
the  sea  that  is  running?^^ 

‘‘  Pray  step  in,^^  said  I.  ‘‘  You  are  plucky  to  show  your 
face  to  it!^^ 

‘‘  Oh,  tut!^^  he  cried;  ‘Mt  is  not  for  a clergyman  any  more 
than  for  a seaman  to  be  afraid  of  weather.  I fear  therein  be 
a call  for  you,  Tregarthen — I thought  1 would  look  round — I 
have  finished  my  sermon  for  to-morrow  morning  — and  thus 
talking  in  a disjointed  way  while  he  pulled  ofl  his  top-coat,  he 
entered  the  parlor. 

After  warming  himself  and  exchanging  a few  sentences  with 
my  mother  about  the  weather,  he  began  to  talk  again  about 
the  bark. 

“ Hark  to  that,  now!^^  he  cried,  as  the  wind  struck  the  front 
of  the  house  with  a crash  that  had  something  of  the  weight  of 
a great  sea  in  the  sound  of  it,  while  you  heard  it  in  a roar  of 
thunder  overhead,  charged  always  with  an  echo  of  pouring 


22 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


waters.  What  chain  cables  wrought  by  mortal  skill  are  going 
lo  hold  a vessel  in  the  eye  of  all  this?^’ 

“ What  business  have  they  to  comehere?^^  cried  my  mother. 

“ 1 met  young  Beckerley  just  now/’  continued  Mr.  Trem* 
bath,  “ and  he  tells  me  that  there’s  some  talk  among  our  men 
of  tliere  having  been  a mutiny  aboard  that  Dane.” 

Nothing  was  said  to  me  about  that/’  1 rejoined. 

“ Beckerly  was  in  the  boat’s  crew  that  boarded  her/’  he  went 
on.  “Probably  he  imagined  a mutiny^ — misinterpreted  a 
gloomy  look  among  the  Danes  into  an  air  of  revolt.  Any- 
way, nothing  short  of  a mutiny  should  justify  a master  in 
anchoring  in  such  a roadstead  as  this  in  the  face  of  the  ugliest 
sky  I ever  saw  in  my  life.” 

“ They  told  me  the  master  was  below,  ill  and  helpless,” 
said  1. 

He  went  to  the  window  and  parted  the  curtains  to  peer 
through,  but  the  wet  ran  down  the  glass,  and  it  was  like 
straining  the  gaze  against  a v/all  of  ebony. 

“ You  see/’  he  continued,  coming  back  to  his  chair,  “ the 
vessel  has  those  deadly  rocks  right  under  her  stern,  and  even 
if  her  cables  don’t  part  it  is  impossible  to  suppose  that  she  will 
not  drag  and  be  on  them  in  the  blackness,  perhaps  without  her 
people  guessing  at  her  neighborhood  until  she  touches — and 
then  God  help  them!” 

“ I suppose  Pentreath!”  exclaimed  my  mother,  naming  the 
second  cockswain  of  the  life-boat,  “ is  keeping  a lookout?’^ 

“ We  need  not  doubt  it,”  I answered.  “ As  to  her  drag- 
ging,” said  I,  addressing  Mr.  Trembath,  “ the  Danes  are  as 
good  sailors  as  the  English,  and  understand  their  business; 
and,  mutiny  or  no  mutiny,  those  fellows  down  there  are  not 
going  to  take  whatever  may  come  without  a shrewd  guess  at 
it,  and  outcry  enough  when  it  happens.  Y'heyTl  know  fast 
enough  if  their  vessel  is  dragging;  then  a flare  will  follow,  and 
out  v/e  shall  have  to  go,  of  course.” 

“ We!”  said  he,  significantly,  looking  from  me  to  my 
mother.  “ You’ll  not  venture  to-night,  I hope,  Tregarthen.” 

“ If  the  call  comes,  most  certainly  I shall,”  said  I,  flushing 
up,  but  without  venturing  to  send  a glance  at  my  mother.  “ I 
have  appointed  myself  captain  of  my  men,  and  is  it  for  me,  of 
all  my  boat’s  crew,  to  shirk  my  duty  iu  an  hour  of  extremity? 
Let  such  a thing  happen,  and  I vow  to  Heaven  1 could  not  show 
my  face  in  Tintrenalo  again.” 

Mr.  Trembath  seemed  a little  abashed. 

“ 1 respect  and  admire  your  theory  of  dutifulness,”  said  he; 

but  you  are  not  an  old  hand — you  are  no  seasoned  boatman 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


28 


in  the  sense  I have  in  my  mind  when  1 think  of  others  of  your 
crew.  Listen  to  this  wind!  It  blows  a hnrricane,  Hugh/^  he 
exclaimed,  gently;  ^‘you  may  have  the  heart  of  a lion;  but 
have  you  the  skill— the  experience — He  halted,  looking  at 
my  mother. 

“ If  the  call  comes  I will  go,^^  said  1,  feeling  that  he  rea- 
soned only  for  my  mother^s  sake,  and  that  in  secret  his  syrii' 
pathies  were  with  me. 

“ If  the  call  comes,  Hugh  must  go,^^  said  my  mother. 

God  will  shield  him.  He  looks  down  upon  no  nobler  work 
done  in  this  world,  none  that  can  better  merit  His  blessing  and 
His  countenance.^^ 

Mr.  Trembath  bowed  his  head  in  a heartfelt  gesture. 

“ Yet  I hope  no  call  will  be  made,^^  she  went  on.  “I  am 
a mother  — her  voice  faltered,  but  she  rallied,  and  said  with 
courage  and  strength  and  dignity — ‘‘  yes,  I am  Hughes  mother. 
I know  what  to  expect  from  him,  and  that  whatever  his  duty 
may  be  he  will  do  it.^^  Yet  in  saying  this  she  pressed  both 
her  hands  to  her  heart,  as  though  the  mere  utterance  of  the 
words  came  near  to  breaking  it. 

1 stepped  to  her  side  and  kissed  her.  “ But  the  call  has  not 
yet  come,  mother,  said  1.  The  vesseFs  anchors  may  hold 
bravely,  and  then,  again,  the  long  dark  warning  of  the  day 
will  have  kept  the  coast  clear  of  ships. 

To  this  she  made  no  reply,  and  1 resumed  my  seat,  gladdened 
to  the  very  heart  by  her  willingness  that  I should  go  if  a sum- 
mons came,  albeit  extorted  from  her  love  by  perception  of  my 
duty;  for  haC  she  been  reluctant,  had  she  refused  her  consent, 
indeed,  it  must  have  been  all  the  same.  1 shonld  go  whether 
or  not,  but  in  that  case  with  a heavy  heart,  with  a feeling  of 
rebellion  against  her  wishes  that  would  have  taken  a deal  of 
spirit  out  of  me,  and  mingled  a sense  of  disobedienge  with 
what  1 knew  to  be  my  duty  and  good  in  the  sight  of  God  and 
man. 

I saw  that  it  comforted  my  mother  to  have  Mr.  Trembath 
with  her,  and  when  he  offered  to  go  1 begged  him  to  stop  and 
sup  with  us,  and  he  consented.  It  was  not  a time  when  con- 
versation would  flow  very  easily.  The  noise  of  the  gale  alone 
was  subduing  enough,  and  to  this  was  to  be  added  the  rest- 
lessness of  expectation,  the  conviction  in  my  own  heart  that 
sooner  or  later  the  call  must  come;  and  every  moment  that  I 
talked— putting  on  the  cheerfulest  face  I could  assume— I was 
waiting  for  it.  I constantly  went  to  the  window  to  look  out, 
guessing  that  if  they  burned  a flare  aboard  the  bark  the  torch- 
like  flame  of  it  would  show  through  the  weeping  glass;  m3 


u 


MT  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


shortly  before  supper  was  served — that  is  to  say,  within  a few 
minutes  of  nine  o^clock — 1 left  the  parlor,  and  going  to  a room 
at  the  extremity  of  the  passage,  where  I kept  my  sea-going 
clothes,  I pulled  on  a pair  of  stout  fisherman^s  stockings,  and 
over  them  the  sea-boots  I always  wore  when  I went  in  the  life- 
boat. I then  brought  away  my  monkey-jacket  and  oilskins, 
and  sou^-wester,  and  hung  them  in  the  passage  ready  to  snatch 
at;  for  a summons  to  man  the  boat  always  meant  hurry — there 
was  no  time  for  hunting:  indeed,  if  the  call  found  the  men  in 
bed,  their  custom  was  to  dress  themselves  as  they  ran. 

Thus  prepared,  I returned  to  the  parlor.  Mr.  Trembath  ran 
his  eye  over  me,  but  my  mother  apparently  took  no  notice.  A 
cheerful  fire  blazed  in  the  grate.  The  table  was  hospitable 
with  damask  and  crystal;  the  play  of  the  flames  set  the  shadows 
dancing  upon  the  ceiling  that  lay  in  the  gloom  of  the  shade 
over  the  lamp.  There  was  something  in  the  figure  of  my  old 
mother,  with  her  white  hair  and  black  silk  gown  and  antique 
gold  chain  about  her  neck,  that  wonderfully  fitted  that  homely 
interior,  warm  with  the  hues  of  the  coal-fire  and  cheerful  with 
pictures  and  several  curiosities  of  shield  and  spear,  of  stuffed 
bird  and  Chinese  ivory  ornament  gathered  together  by  my 
father  in  the  course  of  many  voyages. 

Mr.  Trembath  looked  a plump  and  rosy  and  comfortable 
man  as  he  took  his  seat  at  the  table,  yet  there  was  an  expres- 
sion of  sympathetic  anxiety  upon  his  face,  and  frequently  I 
would  catch  him  quietly  hearkening,  and  then  he  would  turn 
Involuntarily  to  the  curtained  window,  so  that  it  was  easy  to 
see  in  what  direction  his  thoughts  went. 

“ One  had  need  to  build  strongly  in  this  part  of  the  country,^^ 
he  said,  as  we  exchanged  glances  at  the  sound  of  a sudden  driv- 
ing roar  of  wind — a squall  of  wet  of  almost  hurricane  power — 
to  which  the  immensely  strong  fabric  of  our  house  trembled 
as  though  a heavy  battery  of  cannon  were  being  dragged  along 
the  open  road  opposite,  ‘‘  for,  upon  my  word,  Hugh,^^  said 
he— we  were  old  friends,  and  he  would  as  often  as  not  give  me 
my  Christian  name — “ if  the  Dane  hasnT  begun  to  drag  as 
yet,  there  should  be  good  hope  of  her  holding  on  throughout 
what  may  still  be  coming.  Surely,  for  two  hours  now  past 
her  ground  tackle  must  have  been  very  heavily  tested. 

“My  prayer  is,^^  said  1,  “that  the  wind  may  chop  round 
and  blow  off  shore.  Theydl  have  the  sense  to  slip  then,  i 
hope,  and  make  for  the  safety  of  wide  waters,  with  an  amid- 
shjp  helm.^^ 

* He  ishiB  fatber^fl  Ron  . said  Mr,  Trembath^  smiling  at  my 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART.  35 

mother.  “ An  amidship  helm!  It  is  as  a sailor  would  put  it. 
You  should  have  been  a sailor,  Tregar\;hen.^^ 

My  mother  gently  shook  her  head,  and  then  for  some  time 
we  eat  in  silence,  the  three  of  us  feigning  to  look  as  though 
we  thought  of  anything  else  rather  than  of  the  storm  that  was 
raging  without,  and  of  the  bark  laboring  to  her  cables  in  the 
black  heart  of  it. 

On  a sudden,  Mr.  Trembath  let  fall  his  knife  and  fork. 

‘‘  Hist!^^  he  cried,  half  rising  from  his  chair. 

“ The  life-boat  bell!’^  I shouted,  catching  a note  or  two  ol 
the  summons  that  came  swinging  along  with  the  wind. 

“ Oh,  Hugh!^^  shrieked  my  mother,  clasping  her  hands. 

‘‘  God  keep  your  dear  heart  up!’^  1 cried. 

I sprung  to  her  side  and  kissed  her,  wrung  the  outstretched 
hands  of  Mr.  Trembath,  and  in  a minute  was  plunging  into  my 
peacoat  and  oilskins.  The  instant  I was  out  of  the  house  1 
could  hear  the  fast— 1 may  say  the  furious — tolling  of  the  life- 
boat bell,  and  sending  one  glance  at  the  bay,  though  I seemed 
almost  blinded,  and  in  a manner  dazed  by  the  sudden  rage  of 
the  gale  and  its  burden  of  spray  and  rain  against  my  face,  I 
could  distinguish  the  wavering,  flickering  yellow  light  of  a 
flare-up  down  away  in  that  part  of  the  waters  where  the  Twins 
and  the  Deadlow  Kock  would  be  terribly  close  at  hand.  But  I 
allowed  myself  no  time  to  look  beyond  this  hasty  glance.  Mr. 
Trembath  helped  me  by  trying  to  pull  the  house  door  to  after 
me,  for  of  my  own  strength  I never  could  have  done  it,  and 
then  I took  to  my  heels  and  drove  as  best  I might  headlong 
through  the  living  wall  of  wind,  scarcely  able  to  fetch  a 
breath,  reeling  to  the  terrific  outflies,  yet  staggering  on. 

The  gas-flames  in  the  few  lamps  along  the  sea-front  were 
wildly  dancing,  their  glazed  frames  rattled  furiously,  and  I 
remember  noticing,  even  in  that  moment  of  excitement,  that 
one  of  the  lamp-posts  which  stood  a few  yards  away  from  our 
house  had  been  arched  by  the  wind  as  though  it  were  a curve 
of  leaden  pipe.  The  two  or  three  shops  which  faced  the  sea 
had  their  shutters  up  to  save  the  windows,  and  the  blackness 
of  the  night  seemed  to  be  rather  heightened  than  dimiuifehcd 
by  the  dim  and  leaping  glares  of  the  street  lights.  But  as  I 
neared  the  life-boat  house  my  vision  was  somewhat  assisted  by 
the  whiteness  of  the  foam  boiling  in  thunder  a long  space 
out.  It  flung  a dim,  elusive,  ghostly  illumination  of  its  own 
upon  the  air.  I could  see  the  outline  of  the  boat-house  against 
it,  the  shapes  of  men  writhing,  as  it  seemed,  upon  the  slipway; 
the  figure  of  the  boat  herself,  which  had  already  been  eased  by 
her  Qwu  length  out  of  the  house j and  1 could  even  discern  by 


30 


MY  DAKISII  SWEITHEARV. 


the  aid  of  that  woiidertul  light  of  froth,  that  most  of  or  <*11  her 
crew  were  already  in  her,  and  that  they  were  stepping  he^  mast, 
which  the  roof  of  the  hoaso  would  not  suffer  her  to  keep  aloft 
when  she  was  under  shelter. 

“ Here’s  the  cocks’n!”  shouted  a voice. 

“ All  right,  men!’’  I roared,  and  with  that  I rushed  through 
(he  door  of  the  house,  and,  in  a bound  or  two,  gained  the 
interior  of  the  boat  and  my  station  on  the  after-grating. 


CHAPTER  III. 

IN  THE  LIFE-BOAT. 

Now  had  come  the  moment  when  I should  need  the  utmost 
exertion  of  nerve  and  coolness  my  nature  was  equal  to.  There 
was  a large  globular  lamp  alight  in  the  little  building — its 
luster  vaguely  touched  the  boat,  and  helped  me  to  see  what 
was  going  on  and  who  were  present.  Nevertheless,  1 shouted: 

“ Are  all  hands  aboard?” 

“ All  hands!”  came  a hurricane  response. 

“ All  got  your  belts  on?”  I next  cried. 

‘‘All!”  was  the  answer— that  is  to  say,  all  excepting  my- 
self, who,  having  worn  a cork  jacket  once,  vowed  never  again 
to  embark  thus  encumbered. 

“ Are  your  sails  booked  on  ready  for  hoisting?”  1 shouted. 

“All  ready,  sir.” 

“ And  your  haul-off  rope?” 

“ All  ready,  sir!” 

“ Now  then,  my  lads— look  out,  all  hands!” 

There  was  a moment’s  pause:  “ Let  her  go!”  I roared. 

A man  stood  close  under  the  stern,  ready  to  pass  his  knife 
ll; rough  the  lashing  which  held  the  chaiii  to  the  boat. 

“ Stand  by!”  he  shouted.  “ A-il  gone!” 

1 heard  the  clank  of  the  chain  as  it  fell,  an  instant  after  the 
br.at  was  in  motion — slowly  at  first,  but  in  a few  breaths  she 
lull  gathered  the  . full  way  that  her  own  weight  and  the 
ii!  dine  gave  her,  and  rushed  down  the  slipway,  but  almost 
jioisolessly,  so  thickly  greased  was  the  timber  structure,  with 
some  hands  hoisting  the  foresa'l  as  she  spc'd,ajid  others,  grim 
a’ld  motionless,  facing  seaw'ard  ready  to  grasp  and  drag  upon 
the  haul-rope  the  moment  the  craft  should  be  water-borne 
amid  the  smothering  siiif. 

The  tliunderous  slatting  of  the  sail  as  the  yard  mounted, 
flinging  a noise  of  rending  upon  the  car  as  though  the  hurri- 
Cftue  were  whipping  the  clothes  in  rags,  the  furious  roaring  au4 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


2^ 


seething  and  crackling  and  hissing  of  the  mountainous  breakers 
toward  which  the  boat  was  darting — the  indescribable  yelling 
of  the  gale  sweeping  past  our  ears  as  the  fabric  fled  down  the 
ways — the  instant  sight  of  the  torn  and  mangled  skies  which 
seemed  dimly  revealed  somehow  by  the  snow-storms  of  froth 
coursing  along  the  bay — all  this  combined  into  an  impression 
which,  thought  it  could  not  have  taken  longer  than  a second 
or  two  to  produce  it,  dwells  upon  my  mind  with  so  much  sharp- 
ness that  the  whole  experience  of  my  life  might  well  have  gone 
to  the  manufacture  of  it. 

We  touched  the  wash  of  the  sea  and  burst  through  a cloud 
of  foam;  in  the  beat  of  a heart  the  boat  was  up  to  our  knees  in 
water;  in  another  she  was  freeing  herself  and  leaping  to  the 
height  of  the  next  boiling  acclivity,  with  my  eight  men,  rigid 
as  iron  statues  in  their  manner  of  hauling  and  in  their  con- 
frontment  of  the  sea,  dragging  the  craft  through  the  surf  and 
into  deep  water  by  the  oif-haul  rope  attached  to  an  anchor 
some  considerable  distance  ahead  at  the  end  of  the  slipway. 

At  the  moment  of  the  boat  smiting  the  first  of  the  breakers  1 
grasped  the  tiller-ropes,  and  on  the  men  letting  go  of  the  off- 
haul  line  1 headed  the  craft  away  on  the  port  tack,  my  intention 
being  to  reach  down  in  the  direction  of  Hurricane  Point, 
so  as  to  be  able  to  fetch  the  bark  on  a second  board. 

One  had  hardly  the  wits  to  notice  the  scene  at  the  first  going 
off,  so  headlong  was  the  tumble  upon  the  beach,  so  clamorous 
the  noise  of  the  tempest,  and  so  frightfully  wild  the  leapings 
and  launchings  of  the  boat  amid  the  heavily  broken  surface  of 
froth.  But  now  she  had  the  weight  of  the  gale  in  the  close- 
reefed  lug  that  had  been  shown  to  it,  and  this  steadied  her; 
and  high  as  the  sea  ran,  yet  as  the  water  deepened  the  surge 
grew  regular,  and  I was  able  to  settle  down  to  my  job  of  han- 
dling the  boat,  the  worst  being  over,  at  least  so  far  as  our  out- 
ward excursion  went. 

1 glanced  shoreward  and  observed  the  blaze  of  a port-fire, 
held  out  by  a man  near  the  boat-house  to  serve  as  a signal  to 
the  bark  that  help  was  going  to  her.  The  fire  was  blue,  the 
blaze  of  it  was  brilliant,  and  it  lighted  up  a wild  area  of  the 
foreshore,  throwing  out  the  figures  of  the  crowd  who  watched 
us,  and  the  outline  of  the  boat-house,  and  flinging  a ghastly 
tint  upon  every  tall  upheaval  of  surf.  The  radiance  lay  in  a 
sort  of  circle  upon  the  ebony  of  the  night,  with  what  I have 
named  showing  in  it,  as  though  it  was  a picture  cast  by  a 
magic-lantern  upon  a black  curtain.  You  could  see  nothing 
of  the  lights  of  the  town  for  it.  On  either  hand  of  this  lumi- 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHeaKI'. 


nous  frame  the  houses  went  blending  into  the  land,  and  each 
way  all  was  sheer  ink. 

Shortly  after  this  signal  of  port-fire  they  sent  up  a rocket 
from  the  bark.  It  was  a crimson  ball,  and  it  broke  like  a 
flash  of  lightning  under  the  ragged  rush  of  the  sky,  and  then 
out  leaped  afresh  the  flames  of  a flare,  or,  as  you  might  call 
it,  a bonfire  from  the  deck  of  a vessel — a burning  tar-barrel 
perhaps;  and  the  light  of  it  disclosed  the  vision  of  the  ship 
plunging  awfully,  again  and  again  veiled  by  storms  of  crystal 
which  the  fathom-high  flames  of  the  flare  flashed  into  prisms. 

One  of  our  men  roared  out  with  an  oath:  “ She^ll  have 
taken  the  Twins  afore  we  get  to  herP^  and  another  bellowed: 

“ Why  did  they  wait  to  drag  a mile  afore  they  signaled  But 
no  more  was  said  just  then. 

Indeed,  a man  needed  to  exert  the  whole  strength  of  his 
lungs  to  make  himself  heard.  The  edge  of  the  wind  seemed 
to  clip  the  loudest  as  it  left  the  lips,  as  you  would  sever  a rope 
with  a knife. 

Our  boat  was  small  for  a craft  of  her  character,  but  a noble, 
brave,  nimble  fabric,  as  had  been  again  and  again  proved;  and 
every  man  of  us,  allowing  that  good  usage  v/as  given  her,  had 
such  confidence  in  the  “ Janet  that  we  would  not  have  ex- 
changed her  for  the  largest,  handsomest,  and  best-tested  boat 
on  the  coast  of  the  United  Kingdom.  You  would  have  un- 
derstood her  merits  had  you  been  with  us  on  this  night.  I 
was  at  the  yoke-lines;  Pentreath,  my  second  in  command,  sat 
with  his  foot  against  the  side,  gripping  the  fore-sheet,  ready  to 
let  go  in  an  instant;  the  niizzen  had  been  hoisted,  and  the 
rest  of  the  men,  crouching  down  upon  the  thwarts,  sat  star- 
ing ahead  with  iron  countenances,  with  never  so  much  as  a 
stoop  among  them  to  the  hardest  wash  of  the  surge  that  might 
sweep  with  a wild  hissing  shriek  athwart  their  sea-helmets 
and  half  fill  the  boat  as  it  came  bursting  in  smoke  over  the 
weather  bow,  till,  for  the  space  of  a wink  or  two,  the  black 
gale  was  as  white  as  a snow-storm  overhead. 

As  we  ‘‘  reached  out  the  sea  grew  weightier.  Never  be- 
fore had  1 known  a greater  sea  in  that  bay.  The  ridges  seemed 
to  stand  up  to  twice  the  height  of  our  masts;  every  peak  boiled, 
and  as  we  rose  to  the  summit  of  it  the  boat  was  smothered  in 
Mio  foam  of  her  own  churning,  and  in  the  headlong,  giddy, 
dazzling  rush  into  which  she  soared,  with  the  whole  weight  of 
the  gale  in  her  fragment  of  lug  bowing  her  over  and  sending 
her,  as  you  might  have  believed,  gun  wale  under  down  the  long, 
\nC'  0 slant  of  Iho  uTidcrrunning  billow. 


0 held  on,  all  as  mute  as  death  in  the  boat.  From  time 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


29 

to  time  as  we  rose  to  the  head  of  a sea  I would  take  a look  in 
the  direction  of  the  bark,  and  catch  a glimpse  of  the  wiridj 
spark  of  her  flare,  or  of  the  meteoric  sailing  of  a rocket  over 
her  mastheads.  There  should  have  been  a moon,  but  the  planet 
was  without  power  to  strike  the  faintest  illumination  into  the 
heaps  and  rags  of  vapor  which  were  pouring  up  like  smoke  over 
the  edge  of  the  raging  Atlantic  horizon.  The  picture  of  the 
parlor  I had  just  left  would  sometimes  arise  before  me;  I figured 
my  mother  peering  out  at  the  black  and  throbbing  scene  of 
bay;  I imagined  good  Mr.  Trembath  at  her  side,  uttering  such 
words  of  comfort  and  of  hope  as  occurred  to  him;  but  such 
fancies  as  these  seemed  to  be  beaten  away  by  the  breath  of  the 
hurricane  as  rapidly  as  they  were  formed.  Should  we  be  in 
time?  If  the  vesseTs  cables  parted  she  was  doomed.  Nay;  if 
she  should  continue  to  drag  another  quarter  of  an  hour,  she 
would  be  on  to  the  Twins,  and  go  to  pieces  as  a child^s  house 
of  bricks  falls  to  the  touch  of  a hand! 

“ Ready  about  I roared. 

The  helm  was  put  down,  the  fore-sheet  eased  off,  and  round 
came  the  boat  nobly  on  the  very  pinnacle  of  a surge,  pausing 
a moment  as  she  was  there  poised,  and  then  pluuging  into  the 
hollow  to  rise  again  with  her  foresail  full,  and  heading  some 
points  to  windward  of  the  vessel  we  were  now  steering  for. 

Through  it  we  stormed,  sea  after  sea  bursting  from  the  life- 
boat^s  bow  in  pallid  clouds  which  the  wind  sent  whirling  in 
shrieks — so  articulate  was  the  sound  of  the  slinging  spray — 
into  the  blackness  landward.  Here  and  there  a tiny  spark  of 
lamp  flickering  in  the  thick  of  the  gloom  told  us  the  situation 
of  Tintrenale,  but  there  was  nothing  more  to  be  seen  that  way; 
the  land  and  the  sky  above  it  met  in  a deep,  impenetrable 
dye,  toward  which,  to  leeward  of  us,  the  tall  seas  went  flashing 
in  long  yearning  coils,  throbbing  into  mere  pallidness  when  a 
cablets  length  distant 

They  had  kindled  another  flare  aboard  the  bark,  or  else  had 
plied  the  old  one  with  fresh  fuel;  she  was  visible  by  the  light 
of  the  flames,  the  white  of  her  furled  canvas  coming  and  going 
to  the  fluctuating  fires;  and  I marked,  with  a heart  that  sunk 
in  me,  the  dreadful  manner  of  her  laboring.  She  was  pitching 
bows  under,  and  rolling  too,  and  by  the  shining  of  the  signal- 
fire  upon  her  deck  offered  a most  wonderful  sight,  rendered 
terrible  also  by  a view  that  we  could  now  get  of  a crowd  of 
men  hanging  in  a lump  in  her  starboard  fore-rigging. 

The  second  cockswain  flashed  a port-fire  that  they  might 
know  the  life-boat  was  at  hand,  and  we  went  plunging  and 
sweep]  ng  down  to  a point  some  little  distance  ahead  of  the  bark. 


80 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


the  crowd  of  us  irradiated  by  the  stream  of  emerald-green 
flame. 

“ All  ready  with  the  anchor,  lads?^^  I shouted. 

“ Already,  sir!’^  was  the  answer. 

“ Down  foresail and  as  I gave  this  order  I put  the  helm 
down  and  brought  the  boat-head  to  wind  about  thirty  fathoms 
ahead  of  the  ship. 

Let  go  the  anchor 

“ Uiistep  the  foremast!’^  bawled  the  second  cockswain, 
and,  while  this  was  doing,  he  and  another  swiftly  lifted  the 
mizzen-mast  out  of  its  bearings  and  laid  it  along. 

“Veer  away  cable  handsomely!^^  I shouted;  and  pitching 
and  foaming,  now  dropping  into  a hollow  that  seemed  fifty  feet 
deep,  now  appearing  to  scale  a surge  that  lifted  the  boat^s  bow 
almost  dead  on  end  over  her  stern — all  in  a fashion  to  make 
the  brain  of  the  stoutest  and  most  experienced  among  us  reel 
again — we  dropped  alongside. 

In  what  followed  there  was  so  much  confusion,  so  much  up- 
roar, such  distraction  of  shouts  in  foreign  and  unintelligible 
accents,  such  a terrible  washing  of  seas,  such  bewilderment 
born  of  the  darkness,  of  the  complicated  demands  upon  the 
attention  through  need  of  keeping  the  boat  clear  of  the  huge 
chopping  bows  of  the  bar  k,  through  bawling  to  the  men  in  the 
rigging  and  receiving  answers  v/hich  we  could  not  understand, 
that  this  passage  of  my  singular  adventure  could  scarcely  be 
less  vague  to  me  in  memory  than,  instead  of  having  been  an 
actor  in  it,  I had  read  it  in  a book. 

There  were  six  or  seven  men,  as  well  as  I could  make  out, 
clustered  in  the  fore-rigging.  I believed  I could  see  others  in 
the  mizzen-shrouds.  This  being  my  notion,  my  consuming 
anxiety  was  to  drop  the  boat  down  on  the  quarter  as  swiftly 
as  possible,  for  it  was  not  only  that  the  Twins  w^ere  within  a 
cablets  range  astern,  with  the  fury  of  the  foam  there  making 
a kind  of  shining  upon  the  water  that  might  have  passed  for 
mooiilight;  such  was  the  volume  and  height  of  the  sea  roaring 
betwixt  the  laboring  ship  and  our  boat  that  at  every  toss  of  the 
little  fabric,  at  every  ponderous  lean  down  of  the  great,  groan- 
ing black  hull  towering  over  us,  we  stood  to  be  staved. 

The  fellows  in  the  fore-rigging  seemed  to  be  stupefied.  We 
all  of  us  yelled,  “Jump,  junin!  Watch  as  she  rises,  and 
jump,  for  God^ssake!^’  meanwhile  keeping  a turn  of  the  cable 
as  to  hold  the  boat  abreast  of  them.  It  seemed  an  eternity 
before  they  understood,  and,  yol  v,  minute  had  not  passed  since 
we  drop])!  d down,  wbe-n  a cry  broke  from  them,  and  first  one 
jumped  and  then  another,  and  then  the  rest  of  them  sprung, 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


81 


and  there  they  were  lying  in  a huddle  in  the  bottom  of  the 
boat,  one  or  two  of  them  groaning  dreadfully,  as  though  from 
broken  limbs,  or  worse  injuries,  still,  all  of  them  motionless 
as  they  lay  when  they  jumped,  like  folk  nearly  dead  of  terror 
and  cold  and  pain. 

Veer  out  now,  my  lads!  veerout!^^  I cried:  ‘^handsomely, 
that  we  may  get  smartly  under  the  mizzen-shrouds.^^ 

“ There’s  nobody  there,  sir!’"  roared  one  of  my  men. 

No!  I looked  and  found  that  it  had  been  an  illusion  of  my 
sight,  due  to  the  flame  of  the  flare  that  was  burning  fiercely 
on  the  main-deck. 

“ Are  you  all  here?^^  1 cried,  addressing  the  dusky  huddle 
of  men  at  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 

Something  was  said,  but  the  gale  deafened  me,  and  I could 
catch  no  meaning,  no  syllables,  indeed,  in  the  answer. 

“ They ^11  all  be  here,  sir,^’  shouted  one  of  my  crew:  “ the 
port  davits  are  empty,  and  someTl  have  left  in  the  boat.^^ 

A great  sea  swung  us  up  at  that  instant  flush  with  the  level 
of  the  bulwark  rails,  with  a heel  of  the  bark  that  disclosed  her 
decks  bare  to  the  bright  fires  of  the  signal. 

“ They  must  be  all  here!^^  I cried;  “ but  look  well.  Is  there 
one  among  you  who  can  catch  any  signs  of  a living  man  on 
board?’^ 

They  waited  for  the  next  upheaval  of  the  sea,  and  then  rose 
a shout:  “ Theyhe  all  here,  sir,  youTl  find.^^ 

“ Heave  ahead  then,  my  lads!^^  by  which  1 meant  that  they 
should  haul  upon  the  cable  to  drag  the  boat  clear  of  the  dread- 
ful, crushing,  shearing  chop  of  the  overhanging  bows  of  the 
bark. 

At  that  instant  a head  showed  over  the  rail  a little  abaft  the 
fore-shrouds,  and  the  clear,  piercing  voice  of  a boy  cried,  with 
as  good  an  English  accent  as  I myself  have:  “ My  father  is  ill 
and  helpless  in  the  cabin.  Do  not  leave  us!^^ 

“ No,  no,  we^ll  not  leave  you,^^  I instantly  shouted  in  re- 
turn, sending  my  voice  fair  to  the  lad  from  the  height  of  a sea 
that  pretty  well  brought  his  and  my  head  on  a level.  “ How 
many  are  there  of  you?’^ 

“ Two/^  was  the  answer. 

I had  to  wait  for  the  boat  to  slide  up  to  the  summit  of  the 
next  surge  ere  I could  call  out  again.  The  black  yawns  be- 
twixt us  and  the  bark  might  have  passed  for  valleys  looked  at 
from  a hill-side,  so  horribly  hollow  and  deep  were  they;  they 
were  pale,  and  yet  dusky  too,  with  sheets  of  foam;  a soul-con- 
founding noise  of  thunderous  washing  and  seething  rose  up 
from  them.  When  we  were  in  one  of  these  hollows  the  great 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


mass  of  the  dark  fabric  of  the  bark  seemed  to  tower  fifty  feet 
above  us,  and  we  lay  becalmed,  hanging,  while  you  might 
have  counted  five,  in  absolute  stagnation,  with  the  yell  of  the 
wind  sweeping  over  our  heads  as  though  we  were  in  the  heart 
of  a pit. 

‘‘  Can  not  your  father  help  himself  at  all?^^  I bawled  to  the 
boy. 

“fie  can  not  stir,  he  must  be  lifted!"^  he  answered  in  a 
shriek,  for  his  high,  clear,  piercing  cry  thus  sounded. 

“ By  Heaven,  then,  lads,^^  I bawled  to  my  men,  “ there’s 
no  time  to  be  lost!  We  must  bundle  the  poor  fellow  over 
somehow,  and  help  the  lad.  Nothing  will  have  been  done  if 
we  leave  them  behind  us.  Watch  your  chance  and  follow  me, 
three  of  you!” 

At  the  instant  of  saying  this  I made  a spring  from  off  the 
height  of  the  gratings  on  which  I stood,  and  got  into  the  fore- 
chains, the  boat  then  being  on  the  level  of  that  platform;  and 
as  actively  as  a cat,  for  few  young  fellows  had  nimbler  limbs, 
I scrambled  over  the  bulwark  on  to  the  deck,  just  in  time  to 
escape  a huge  fold  of  rushing  water  that  foamed  sheer  through 
the  chains  with  a spite  and  weight  that  must  instantly  have 
settled  my  business  for  me. 

1 was  in  the  act  of  running  along  the  deck  to  where  the  lad 
stood — that  is  to  say,  a little  forward  of  the  gangway,  not 
doubting  that  the  others  of  my  crew  whom  1 had  called  upon 
vv^ere  following  with  as  much  alertness  as  I had  exhibited,  when 
I felt  a shock  as  of  a thump  pass  through  the  bark. 

“ She  has  struck!”  thought  I. 

But  hardly  was  I sensible  of  this  tremor  through  the  vessel 
when  there  arose  a wild  and  dreadful  cry  from  alongside.  Heav- 
enly God!  how  am  I to  describe  that  shocking  noise  of  human 
distress?  1 fied  to  the  rail  and  looked  over;  it  was  all  boiling 
water  under  me,  with  just  a sight  of  the  black  line  of  the  gun* 
wale  or  of  the  keel  of  the  life-boat;  but  there  was  such  a raging 
of  foam,  such  a thickness  of  seething  yeast  smoking  into  the 
nurricane  as  though  some  volcanic  eruption  had  happened 
right  under  the  bark,  filling  the  air  with  steam,  that  there  was 
nothing  whatever  to  be  seen  save  just  that  dark  glance  of 
keel  or  gunwale,  as  I have  said,  which,  however,  vanished  as  I 
looked  into  the  depth  of  the  hissing,  spumy  smother.  I knew 
by  this  that  the  life-boat  must  have  been  staved  and  filled  by 

sudden  (ling  of  her  against  the  massive  sides  of  the  bark;  for 
*.de  was  a self-righting  craft,  and,  though  she  rniglit  have  thrown 
f /ery  soul  in  her  out  as  she  rolled  over,  yet  she  would  have 
rose  buoyant  again,  emptying  herself  as  she  leaped  to  the  surge. 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART, 


and  there  she  would  have  been  alongside,  without  a living  creat- 
ure in  her,  if  you  will,  but  a good  boat,  and  riding  stoutly  to 
her  cable.  But  she  had  been  stove,  and  now  she  was  gone! 

The  blazing  tar-barrel  on  the  main-deck  enabled  me  to  see 
my  way  to  rush  aft.  I cried  to  the  lad  as  I sped:  “ The  boat 
is  staved;  all  hands  of  her  are  overboard  and  drowning!  Heave 
ropes’ ends  over  the  side!  fling  life-buoys!’^  and  thus  shouting, 
scarcely  knowing,  indeed,  what  I called  out,  so  confounded  was 
I,  so  shocked,  so  horrified,  so  heart-broken,  1 may  say,  by  the 
suddenness  and  the  fearfulness  of  this  disaster,  I reached  the 
quarter  of  the  bark  and  overhung  it;  but  I could  see  nothing. 
The  cloudy  boiling  rose  and  fell,  and  with  every  mighty  drop 
of  the  great  square  counter  of  the  bark  the  sea  swept  in  a roar 
from  either  hand  of  her  with  a cataractal  fury  that  would  rush 
whatever  was  afloat  in  it  dozens  of  fathoms  distant  at  every 
scend.  Here  and  there  noio  I believe  1 could  distinguish  some 
small  black  object,  but  the  nearer  pallid  waters  dimmed  into 
a blackness  at  a little  distance,  and,  if  those  dark  points  which 
I observed  were  the  heads  of  swimmers,  then  such  was  the 
headlong  race  of  the  surge  they  were  swept  into  the  throbbing 
dusk  ere  I could  make  sure  of  them. 

I stood  as  one  paralyzed  from  head  to  foot.  My  inability  to 
be  of  the  least  service  to.  my  poor  comrades  and  the  unhappy 
Danes  caused  me  to  feel  as  though  the  very  heart  in  me  had 
ceased  to  beat.  The  young  fellow  came  to  my  side. 

“ What  is  to  be  done?”  he  cried. 

“ Nothing!”  I answered  in  a passion  of  grief,  ‘‘  What  can 
be  done?  God  grant  that  many  of  them  will  reach  the  shore! 
The  hurl  of  the  sea  is  landward,  and  their  life-belts  will  float 
them.  But  your  people  are  doomed.” 

“ And  so  are  we!”  he  exclaimed,  shrilly,  yet  without  per- 
ceptible terror,  with  nothing  worse  than  wild  excitement  in  his 
accents:  “ there  are  rocks  directly  under  our  stern.  Are  you  a 
sailor?” 

“No!” 

“ Oh,  du  gode  Gud!  what  is  to  be  done?”  cried  the  lad. 

I cast  my  eyes  despairingly  around.  The  tar-barrel  was  still 
burning  bravely  upon  the  deck,  defying  the  ceaseless  sweeping  of 
spray  from  over  the  bows;  the  windy,  unearthly  light  tinctured 
the  ship  with  its  sickly  sallow  hue  to  the  height  of  her  lower 
yards,  and  the  whole  ghastly  body  of  her  was  to  be  seen  as  she 
rolled  and  plunged  under  a sky  that  was  the  blacker  for  the 
light  of  the  distress -flare,  and  upon  a sea  whose  vast  spreads 
of  creaming  brows  would  again  and  again  come  charging  along 
to  the  very  height  — rail. 


34 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


In  the  midst  of  this  pause  on  my  part,  and  while  every  In- 
stinct of  self-preservation  in  me  was  blindly  flinging  itself,  so  to 
speak,  against  the  black  and  horrible  situation  that  imprisoned 
me,  and  while  1 was  hopelessly  endeavoring  to  consider  what 
was  to  be  done  to  save  the  young  fellow  alongside  of  me  from 
destruction — for,  as  to  his  father,  it  was  impossible  to  extend 
my  sympathies  at  such  a moment  to  one  whom  I had  not  seen, 
who  did  not  appeal  to  me,  as  it  were,  in  form  and  voice  for 
succor — I say,  in  the  midst  of  this  pause  of  hopeless  delibera- 
tion, the  roar  of  the  hurricane  ceased  on  a sudden.  Nothing 
more,  I was  sure,  was  signified  by  this  than  a lull,  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  some  fierce  chop  round,  or  by  the  continuance  of  the 
westerly  tempest  with  a bitterer  spite  in  the  renewed  rush  of 
it.  The  lull  may  have  lasted  ten  or  fifteen  ■seconds.  In  that 
time  I do  not  know  that  there  was  a breath  of  air  to  be  felt 
outside  the  violent  eddyings  and  draughts  occasioned  by  the 
sickening  motions  of  the  bark.  I looked  up  at  the  sky,  and 
spied  the  leanest  phantom  of  a star  that  glimmered  for  the 
space  of  a single  swing  of  a pendulum,  and  then  vanished 
behind  a rushing  roll  of  vapor  of  a midnight  hue,  winging 
with  incredible  velocity  from  the  land. 

So  insupportable  was  the  movement  of  the  deck  that  I was 
forced  to  support  myself  by  a belaying  pin  or  1 must  have  been 
thrown.  My  companion  clung  to  a similar  pin  close  beside  me. 
The  thunder  of  running  and  colliding  waters  rose  into  that 
magical  hush  of  tempest;  I could  hear  the  booming  of  the  surf 
as  far  as  Hurricane  Point,  and  the  caldron-like  noises  of  the 
waters  round  about  the  rocks  astern  of  us. 

“ Has  the  storm  ceased?’^  cried  my  companion.  Oh,  belov- 
ed father,  we  may  be  spared  yet!^^  he  added,  extending  his 
disengaged  hand  toward  the  deck-house  as  he  apostrophized 
the  helpless  man  who  lay  there. 

Amazed  as  I was  by  this  instant  cessation  of  the  gale,  I could 
yet  find  mind  enough  to  be  struckby  my  companion'’s  manner, 
by  his  words,  and  now,  I may  say,  by  his  voice  also.  I was 
about  to  address  him;  but  as  my  lips  parted  there  was  a 
vivid  flash  of  lightning  that  threw  out  the  whole  scene  of  bay, 
cliff,  foreshore,  and  town,  with  the  line  of  the  horizon  seaward, 
in  a dazzle  of  violet;  a crash  of  thunder  followed,  but,  before 
its  ear-splitting  reverberation  had  ceased,  the  echoes  of  it  were 
drowned  in  the  bellowing  of  the  gale  coming  directly  off  the 
land. 

Wliat  is  there  in  words  to  express  the  fury  of  this  outfly? 
It  met  the  heave  of  the  laud  ward-running  seas,  and  swept  them 
into  smoke,  and  the  air  grew  as  white  and  thick  with  spume  as 


MY  DAIfTISH  SWEETHEAET. 


85 


though  a heavy  snow-storm  were  blowing  horizontally  along. 
It  took  the  bark  and  swung  her;  her  laboring  was  so  prodigious 
as  she  was  thrust  by  this  fresh  hurricane  broadside  round  to 
the  surges,  that  I imagined  every  second  she  would  founder 
under  my  feet  I felt  a shock;  my  companion  cried,  “ One  of 
the  cables  has  parted  A moment  later  I felt  the  same  in- 
describable tremble  running  through  the  planks  on  which  we 
stood. 

“ Is  that  the  other  cable  gone,  do  you  think?^^  I shouted. 

“ There  is  a lead-line  over  the  side,^^  he  cried;  it  will  tell 
us  if  we  are  adrift. 

1 followed  him  to  near  the  mizzen-rigging;  neither  of  us  durst 
let  go  with  one  hand  until  we  had  a grip  of  something  else 
with  the  other;  it  was  now  not  only  the  weight  of  the  wind 
that  would  have  laid  us  prone  and  pinned  us  to  the  deck;  a 
pyramidal  sea  had  sprung  up  as  though  by  enchantment,  and 
each  apex  as  it  soared  about  the  bows  and  sides  was  blown 
inboards  in  very  avalanches  of  water,  which  with  each  vio- 
lent roll  of  the  vessel  poured  in  a sofid  body  to  the  rail,  one 
side  or  the  other,  again  and  again,  to  the  height  of  our  waist. 

My  companion  extended  his  hand  over  the  bulwarks,  and 
cried  out:  ‘‘Here  is  the  lead-line.  It  stretches  toward  the 
bows.  Oh,  sir,  we  are  adrift!  we  are  blowing  out  to  sea!^^ 

I put  my  hand  over  and  grasped  the  line,  and  instantly  knew 
by  the  angle  of  it  that  the  lad  was  right.  By  no  other  means 
would  he  have  been  able  to  get  at  the  truth.  The  weight  of 
lead,  by  resting  on  the  bottom,  immediately  told  if  the  bark 
was  dragging.  All  around  was  white  water;  the  blackness  of 
the  night  drooped  to  the  very  spit  of  the  brine;  not  a light 
was  to  be  perceived,  not  the  vaguest  outline  of  cliff;  and  the 
whole  scene  of  darkness  was  the  more  bewildering  for  the 
throb  of  the  near  yeast  upon  the  eyesight. 

“ Is  your  binnacle  light  burning?^^  1 cried. 

The  lad  answered:  “Yes.^^ 

“ Then,^^  I shouted,  “ we  must  find  out  the  quarter  the  gale 
has  shifted  into,  and  get  her  stern  on  to  it,  and  clear  Hur- 
ricane Point,  if  Almighty  God  will  permit.  There  may  be 
safety  in  the  open;  there  is  none  here.^^ 

With  the  utmost  labor  and  distress  we  made  our  way  aft. 
The  flare  had  been  extinguished  by  the  heavy  falls  of  water, 
and  it  was  worse  than  walking  blindfolded.  The  binnacle 
light  was  burning — this  was,  indeed,  to  be  expected.  The  bark 
was  plunging  directly  head  to  wind,  and  a glance  at  the  card 
enabled  me  to  know  that  the  gale  was  blowing  almost  due  east. 


36 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


having  shifted 5 as  these  cyclonic  ragings  often  do,  right  into 
the  quarter  opposite  whence  it  had  come. 

“ We  must  endeavor  to  get  her  before  it/^  I cried;  “ but  1 
am  no  sailor.  There  may  come  another  shift,  and  we  ought 
to  clear  the  land  while  the  hurricane  holds  as  it  does.  What 
is  to  be  done?^^ 

“ Will  she  pay  off  if  the  helm  is  put  hard  over?^*’  he  an- 
swered. “ Let  us  try  it!’^ 

He  seized  the  spokes  on  one  side;  I put  my  shoulder  to  the 
wheel  on  the  other,  and  thus  we  jammed  and  secured  the  helm 
into  the  posture  called  by  sailors hard  a-starboard.^^  She 
fell  off,  indeed — into  the  trough,  and  there  she  lay,  amid  such 
a diabolical  play  of  water,  such  lashings  of  seas  on  both  sides, 
as  it  is  not  in  mortal  pen  to  portray! 

Had  we  been  in  the  open  ocean,  a better  attitude  than  the 
bark  herself  had  taken  up  we  could  not  have  wished  for.  She 
was,  indeed,  hove-to,  as  the  sea  expression  is,  giving  something 
of  her  bow  to  the  wind,  and  was  in  that  posture  which  the  ship- 
master will  put  his  vessel  into  in  such  a tempest  as  was  now 
blowing.  But,  unhappily,  the  land  was  on  either  hand  of  us, 
and,  though  our  drift  might  be  straight  out  to  sea,  I could 
not  be  sure  that  it  was  so.  The  tide  would  be  making  to  the 
west  and  north;  the  coils  and  pyramids  and  leapings  of  surge 
had  also  a sort  of  yearning  and  leaning  toward  north-west  as 
if  in  sympathy  with  the  tide;  the  deadly  terrace  of  Hurricane 
Point  lay  that  way;  and  so  the  leaving  of  the  bark  in  the  trough 
of  the  sea  might  come,  indeed,  to  cost  us  our  lives,  which 
had  only  just  been  spared  by  the  shift  in  the  storm  of  wind! 

“ She  does  not  answer  the  helm,’^  I cried  to  my  young  com* 
panion. 

“ Her  head  will  pay  off,^^  he  answered,  “ if  we  can  manage 
to  hoist  a fragment  of  sail  forward.  It  must  be  done,  sir. 
Will  you  help  ine?^^ 

“ God  knows  1 will  do  anything  I cried.  “ Show  me 
what  is  to  be  done.  We  must  save  our  lives  if  we  can.  There 
m^  be  a chance  out  on  the  ocean  for  us.^^ 

Without  another  word  he  went  forward,  and  I followed 
him.  We  had  to  pause  often  to  preserve  ourselves  from  being 
floated  off  our  feet.  The  flood,  which  washed  white  betwixt 
the  rails,  lifted  the  rigging  off  the  pins,  and  sent  the  ropes 
snaking  about  the  decks,  and  our  movements  were  as  much 
hampered  as  though  wo  fought  our  way  through  a jungle. 
The  foam  all  about  us  outside  and  inboards  put  a wild,  cold 
glimmer  into  the  air,  which  enabled  us  to  distinguish  outlines, 
in  fact,  at  momento  the  whole  shape  of  the  bark^  from  her  bul- 


DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


Warks  to  some  distance  up  her  masts,  would  show  like  a sketch 
in  ink  upon  white  paper  as  she  leaned  off  the  slant  of  the  sea 
and  painted  her  figure  upon  the  hill  of  froth  thundering  away 
from  her  on  the  lee-side. 

My  companion  paused  for  a moment  or  two  under  the  shelter 
of  the  caboose  or  galley  to  tell  me  what  he  meant  to  do.  We 
then  crawled  on  to  the  forecastle,  and  he  bade  me  hold  on  by  a 
rope  which  he  put  into  my  hand,  and  await  his  return.  I 
watched  him  creep  into  the  eyes  of  the  vessel  and  get  upon 
the  bowsprit,  but  after  that  1 lost  sight  of  him,  for  the  seas 
smoked  so  fiercely  all  about  the  ship^s  head — to  every  plunge 
of  her  bows  there  rose  so  shrouding  a thickness  of  foam — that 
the  air  was  a fog  of  crystals  where  the  lad  was,  and  had  he 
gone  overboard  he  could  not  have  vanished  more  utterly  from 
my  sight.  Indeed,  1 could  not  tell  whether  he  was  gone  or 
not,  and  a feeling  of  horror  possessed  me  when  1 thought  of 
being  left  alone  in  the  vessel  with  a sick  and  useless  man  lying 
somewhere  aft,  and  with  the  rage  and  darkness  of  the  dreadful 
storm  around  me,  the  chance  of  striking  upon  Hurricane  Point, 
and  no  better  hope  at  the  best  than  what  was  to  be  got  out 
of  thinking  of  the  midnight  breast  of  the  storming  Atlantic. 

After  a few  minutes  there  was  the  noise  of  the  rattling  of 
canvas  resembling  a volley  of  small  shot  fired  off  the  bows.  The 
figure  of  the  lad  came  from  the  bowsprit  out  of  a burst  of  spray 
that  soared  in  steam  into  the  wind. 

“Only  a fragment  must  be  hoisted he  exclaimed,  with 
his  mouth  at  my  ear.  “ Pull  with  me!^^ 

I put  my  weight  upon  the  rope,  and  together  we  rose  a few 
feet  of  the  sail  upon  the  stay — it  was  the  foretopmast  staysail, 
as  I afterward  discovered. 

“ Enough cried  my  companion,  in  his  clear,  penetrating 
voice;  “ if  it  will  but  hold  till  the  vessel  pays  off,  all  will  be 
well.  We  dare  not  ask  for  more.^^ 

He  secured  the  rope  we  had  dragged  upon  to  a pin,  and  1 
followed  him  aft,  finding  leisure  even  in  that  time  of  distress 
and  horror  to  wonder  at  the  coolness,  the  intrepidity  of  soul 
that  was  expressed  in  this  clear,  unfaltering  speech,  in  the  keen 
judgment  and  instant  resolution  of  a lad  whose  age,  as  I might 
gather  from  his  voice,  could  scarcely  exceed  fifteen  or  sixteen 
years.  Between  us  we  seized  the  wheel  afresh,  one  on  either 
side  of  it,  and  waited.  But  we  were  not  to  be  kept  long  in 
suspense.  Indeed,  even  before  we  had  grasped  the  helm  the 
bark  was  paying  off.  The  rag  of  canvas  held  nobly,  and  to 
the  impulse  of  it  the  big  bows  of  the  vessel  rounded  away  from 
the  gale,  and  in  a few  minutes  she  was  dead  before  it,  pitch- 


38 


MY  DANISH  SWEOTHEAHT. 


ing  furiously,  with  the  sea  snapping  and  foaia'iig  to  her  taffrail 
and  quarters. 

But  the  thickness  of  her  yards,  vvilh  the  canvas  rolled  up  on 
them,  the  thickness  of  the  masts,  too,  the  s[)rcad  of  the  tops, 
the  complicated  gear  of  shroud,  backstay,  and  rurining-iigging, 
ail  offered  resistance  enough  to  the  dark  and  living  gale  that 
was  bellowing  right  over  the  stern  to  put  something  of  the 
speed  of  an  arrow  into  the  keel  of  the  fabric.  Through  it  she 
macliy  raced,  with  pallid  clouds  blowing  about  her  bows,  and 
white  peaks  hissing  along  her  sides,  and  a wake  of  sru>w  under 
her  counter  heaving  to  half  the  height  of  the  mizzen-mast 
with  the  hurl  of  the  seas,  and  a ceaseless  blowing  of  froth  over 
our  heads  as  the  lad  and  1 stood  together  grasping  the  wheel, 
steering  the  vessel  into  the  darkness  of  the  great  Atlantic  Ocean, 
with  our  eyes  upon  the  compass-card,  whose  illuminated  disk 
showed  the  course  on  which  we  were  being  flashed  forward 
by  the  storm  to  be  a trifle  south  of  west. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HELGA  NIELSEN. 

Poe  full  twenty  minutes  the  lad  and  I clung  to  the  helm 
without  exchanging  a word.  The  speed  of  the  driven  vessel 
rendered  her  motion  comparatively  easy,  after  the  intolerable 
lurching  and  rolling  and  plunging  of  her  as  she  lay  at  anchor 
or  in  the  trough.  She  was  swept  onward  with  such  velocity 
that  1 had  little  or  no  fear  of  her  taking  in  the  seas  over  her 
stern,  and  she  steered  well,  with  but  little  wildness  in  the 
swerving  of  her  bows,  as  was  to  be  seen  by  the  comparative 
regularity  of  the  oscillation  of  the  compass-card. 

This  running  before  the  tempest,  of  course,  diminished  the 
volume  and  power  of  it,  so  far,  I mean,  as  our  own  sensations 
were  concerned;  but  the  sight  of  the  sea,  as  much  of  it  at  least 
as  was  visible,  coupled  with  the  thunder  of  the  wind  up  aloft 
in  the  sky,  and  the  prodigious  crying  and  shrieking  and  shrilling 
of  it  in  the  rigging,  was  warrant  enough  that  were  we  to  heave 
the  bark  to,  we  should  find  the  hurricane  harder  now  than  it 
bad  been  at  any  other  time  since  it  first  came  on  to  blow.  Yet 
our  racing  before  it,  as  I have  said,  seemed  somewhat  to  lull 
it,  and  we  could  converse  without  having  to  cry  out,  though 
for  twenty  minutes  we  stood  mute  as  statues  waiting  and  watch- 
ing. 

At  last  my  companion  said  to  me:  “ Have  we  passed  that 
point  which  you  spoke  of,  do  you  thiuk?’^ 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


Oh,  yes/^  I answered.  “ It  would  not  be  above  two 
miles  distant  from  the  point  where  we  broke  adrift.  Our  speed 
can  not  have  been  less  than  eight  or  nine  knots.  I should  say 
Hurricane  Point  is  a full  mile  a’vay,  down  on  the  quarter  there. 

“ I fear  that  we  shall  find  the  sea/^  said  he,  “ grow  terribly 
heavy  as  we  advanoe.^^ 

“ Yes,^^  said  I,  “but  what  is  to  be  done?  There  is  nothing 
for  it  but  to  advance.  Suppose  such  another  shift  of  wind  as 
has  just  happened — what  then?  We  should  have  a line  of 
deadly  shore  right  under  our  lee.  No,  we  must  hold  on  as  we 
are. 

“ There  are  but  two  of  us!^^  cried  he;  “ my  father  can  not 
count.  What  are  we  to  do?  We  can  not  work  this  big  ship.^^ 

“ The  weather  may  break, said  I;  “ it  is  surely  too  fierce 
to  last.  What  can  we  hope  for  but  to  be  rescued  or  assisted 
by  some  passing  vessel?  Is  this  ship  stanch ?^^ 

“Yes;  she  is  a strong  ship,^^  he  replied.  “ She  is  about 
six  years  old.  My  father  is  her  owner.  I wish  I could  go  to 
him/^  he  added;  “he  will  be  dying  to  learn  what  has  hap- 
peiied  and  what  is  being  done,  and  it  is  past  the  time  for  his 
medicine,  and  he  will  be  wanting  his  supper!’^ 

I tried  to  catch  a view  of  him  as  he  spoke  these  words,  but 
the  haze  of  the  binnacle  lamp  did  not  reach  to  his  face,  and  it 
W'as  as  black  as  the  face  of  the  sky  itself  out  of  that  sheen. 
What  he  had  said  had  a girlish  note  in  it  that  I could  not  rec- 
oncile with  his  dress,  with  his  seafaring  alertness,  with  his 
spirited  behavior,  his  nimble  crawling  out  upon  the  bowsprit, 
and  his  perception  of  what  was  to  be  done  under  conditions 
which  might  well  have  clouded  the  wits  of  the  oldest  and  most 
audacious  sailor. 

“ Pray  go  and  see  your  father,  said  I.  “I  believe  I can 
keep  this  helm  amidship  without  help.  And,  indeed,  if  I 
could  not  have  steered  the  bark  alone,  I do  not  know  that  such 
assistance  as  he  could  offer  would  have  suffered  me  to  control 
her.  He  seemed  but  a slender  lad — so  far,  at  least,  as  I had 
been  able  to  judge  from  the  view  I got  when  the  flare  was  burn- 
ing-very quick,  but  without  such  strength  as  I should  have 
looked  for  in  a young  seaman,  as  I could  tell  whenever  the 
wheel  had  to  be  put  up  or  down. 

He  let  go  the  spokes,  and  stood  apart  for  a minute  or  two, 
as  though  to  judge  whether  I could  manage  without  him; 
then  said  he:  “ I will  return  quickly, and  wilh  that  took  a 
step  and  vanished  in  the  blackness  forward  of  the  binnacle- 
stand. 

My  mind  dwelt  for  a moiuent  npon  him^  upon  the  clearne^i 


40 


MT  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


and  purity  of  his  voice,  upon  a something*  in  his  speech  which 
I could  not  define,  and  which  puzzled  me;  upon  his  words,  which 
were  as  good  English  as  one  could  hope  to  hear  at  home,  albeit 
there  was  a certain  sharpness  and  incisiveness—perhaps  Tmiglit 
»3ay  a little  of  harshness — in  his  accentuation  that  might  suggest 
him  a foreigner  to  an  English  ear,  though,  as  I then  supposed, 
it  was  more  likely  than  not  this  quality  arose  from  the  excite- 
ment and  dismay  and  distress  which  worked  in  him  as  in  me. 

But  he  speedily  ceased  to  engage  my  thoughts.  What  cmli 
I dwell  upon  but  the  situation  in  which  I found  myself — the 
spectacle  of  the  black  outline  of  the  bark  painting  herself 
upon  the  volumes  of  white  water  she  heaved  up  around  her  as  she 
rushed  forward,  pitching  bows  under,  her  rigging  echoing  with 
unearthly  cries,  as  if  the  dark  waving  mass  of  spar  and  gear 
aloft  were  crowded  with  tormented  souls  wailing  and  howling 
and  shrieking  dismally?  I recalled  my  mother^s  dream;  I be- 
lieved I was  acting  in  some  dreadful  nightmare  of  my  own  slum- 
bers; all  had  happened  so  suddenly — so  much  of  emotion,  of 
wild  excitement,  of  agitation,  and,  1 may  say,  horror,  had 
been  packed  into  the  slender  space  of  time  between  the  capsizal 
of  the  life-boat  and  this  rushing  out  of  the  bay  that,  now  I 
had  a little  leisure  to  bend  my  mind  to  a contemplation  of  the 
reality,  1 could  not  believe  in  it  as  an  actual  thing.  I was 
dazed;  my  hearing  was  stunned  by  the  ceaseless  roar  of  wind 
and  seas.  The  “ Janet  stove  and  sunk!  All  my  lion-hearted 
men  drowned  perhaps!  The  poor  Danes,  for  whom  they  had 
forfeited  their  lives,  long  ago  corpses!  Would  not  this  break 
my  mother’s  heart?  Wpuld  there  be  a survivor  to  tell  her 
that  when  I was  last  seen  I was  aboard  the  bark?  Once  again 
I figured  the  little  parlor  I had  quitted  but  a few  hours  since 
— I pictured  my  mother  sitting  by  the  fire,  waiting  and  listening 
— the  long  night,  the  bitter  anguish  of  suspense!  It  was  lucky 
for  mo  that  the  obligation  of  having  to  watch  and  steer  the 
vessel  served  as  a constant  intrusion  upon  my  mind  at  this 
time,  for  could  I have  been  able  to  sit  down  and  surrender  my- 
self wholly  to  my  mood,  God  best  knows  how  it  must  have  gone 
with  me. 

The  lad  was  about  ten  minutes  absent.  I found  him  along- 
side the  wheel  without  having  witnessed  his  approach.  He  came 
out  of  the  darkness  as  a spirit  might  shape  itself,  and  I did 
not  know  that  he  was  near  me  until  he  spoke. 

“ My  fatlier  says  that  our  safety  lies  in  heading  into  the  , 
open  sea,  to  obtain  what  you  call  a wide  offing,”  said  he. 

“ What  does  lie  advise?”  I asked. 

“ We  rjiiust  continue  to  run/  he  sajs^”  answered  the 


MT  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


41 


meaning  by  run  that  we  should  keep  the  bark  before  the 
wind.  * When  the  coast  is  far  astern  we  must  endeavor  to 
heave  to.^  So  he  counsels.  I told  him  we  are  but  two.  He 
answered,  ‘ It  may  be  done.^ 

“ I wish  he  were  able  to  leave  his  cabin  and  take  charge/^ 
said  I.  “ What  is  his  complaint 

“ He  was  seized  shortly  after  leaving  Cuxhaven  with  rlieu« 
matism  in  the  knees, he  answered;  ‘‘  he  can  not  stand,  can 
not  indeed  stir  either  leg.^^ 

“ Why  did  he  not  get  himself  conveyed  ashore  for  treat- 
ment?^^ 

‘‘  He  hoped  to  get  better.  We  were  to  call  at  Swansea  be- 
fore proceeding  to  Porto  Alegre,  and,  if  he  had  found  himself 
still  ill  when  he  arrived  there,  it  was  his  intention  to  procure 
another  captain  for  the  ‘ Anine,^  and  remain  at  Swansea  with 
me  until  he  was  able  to  return  home. 

“ Who  had  charge  of  the  bark  when  she  was  brought  up  in 
the  bay?^^  I inquired,  finding  a sort  of  relief  in  asking  these 
questions,  and,  indeed,  in  having  somebody  to  converse  with, 
for  even  my  ten  minutes  of  loneliness  at  the  helm  of  that 
pitching  and  foaming  vessel  had  depressed  me  to  the  very  core 
of  my  soul. 

“ The  carpenter,  who  acted  as  second  mate.^^ 

“ Yes,  1 recollect;  some  of  our  boatmen  brought  the  news. 
Your  chief  mate  broke  his  leg  and  was  sent  ashore.  But  did 
your  father  consent  to  the  ‘ Anine  ^ dropping  anchor  in  so 
perilous  a bay  as  ours — perilous,  I mean,  considering  the 
weather  at  the  time?^^ 

He  was  at  the  mercy  of  the  man  Damm — the  carpenter, 
1 mean,^^  he  answered.  ‘‘  The  crew  had  refused  to  keep  the 
sea;  they  said  a tempest  was  coming,  and  that  shelter  must  be 
sought  before  the  wind  came,  and  the  carpenter  steered  the 
bark  for  the  first  haven  he  fell  in  with,  which  happened  to  be 
your  bay.  Our  crew  were  not  good  men;  they  were  grum- 
bling much,  as  your  English  word  is,  from  the  hour  of  our 
leaving  Cuxhaven. 

“ But  surely,^ ^ said  1,  “ the  poor  fellows  who  sprung  out  of 
the  fore-rigging  could  not  have  formed  the  whole  of  the  crew 
of  a sh:p  of  this  burden. 

“ 'No,”  he  answered;  the  carpenter  and  five  men  got  away 
in  one  of  the  boats  when  they  found  that  the  bark  was  dragging 
her  anchors.  They  lowered  one  boat,  which  filled  and  was 
knocked  to  pieces,  and  the  wreck  of  it,  I dare  say,  is  still 
swinging  at  the  tackles.  They  lowered  the  other  boat,  and 
went  away  in 


»nr  DANISH  SWEETHEAHT. 


“ Did  thfiy  reach  the  shore?^^ 

I do  not  kiiow/^  said  he. 

“ They  must  have  been  a bad  lot/^  said  I;  those  who  es- 
caped in  the  boat  and  those  who  hung  in  the  shrouds,  to  leave 
your  helpless  father  to  his  fate.''^ 

Oh!  a bad  lot,  a wicked  lot!’^  he  cried.  “ They  were  not 
Danes,"^  he  added.  “ Danish  sailors  would  not  have  acted  as 
those  men  did.^^ 

“ Are  you  a Dane?’^  I asked. 

“ My  father  is,^^  he  answered.  ‘‘  1 am  as  much  English  as 
Danish.  My  mother  was  an  English  woman. 

1 should  have  believed  you  wholly  English,^^  said  1.  “ Are 

you  a sailor?’^ 

He  answered  no.  1 was  about  to  speak,  when  he  exclaimed: 
“ I am  a girl!^^ 

Secretly  for  some  time  I had  supposed  this,  and  yet  I was 
hardly  less  astonished  had  I been  without  previous  sus- 
picion. 

“ A girl!’^  I cried,  sending  my  sight  groping  over  her  fig- 
ure; but  to  no  purpose.  She  was  absolutely  indistinguishable, 
saving  her  arms,  which  were  dimly  touched  by  the  haze  of  the 
binnacle  light  as  they  lay  upon  the  spokes  of  the  wheel. 

‘‘It  is  my  whim  to  dress  as  a boy  on  board  ship!’^  she 
exclaimed,  with  no  stammer  of  embarrassment  that  I could 
catch  in  her  clear  delivery,  that  penetrated  to  my  ear  without 
loss  of  a syllable  through  the  heavy  storming  of  the  gale, 
flashing  with  the  fury  of  a whirlwind  off  the  brows  of  the  seas 
which  rushed  at  us,  as  the  bark^s  counter  soared  into  the  whole 
weight  and  eye  of  the  tempest. 

So  far  had  we  conversed;  but  at  this  moment  a great  surge 
took  the  bark  and  swung  her  up  in  so  long,  so  dizzy,  and 
sickening  an  upheaval,  followed  by  so  wild  a fall  into  the 
frothing  hollow  at  its  base,  that  speech  was  silenced  in  me, 
and  I could  think  of  nothing  else  but  the  mountainous  billows 
now  running.  Indeed,  as  my  companion  had  predicted,  the 
further  we  drew  out  from  the  land  the  heavier  we  found  the 
sea.  The  play  of  the  ocean,  indeed,  out  here  was  rendered 
fierce  beyond  words  by  the  dual  character  of  the  tempest;  for 
the  seas  which  had  been  set  racing  out  of  the  west  had  not 
yet  been  conquered  by  the  violence  of  the  new  gale  and  by  the 
hurl  of  the  liquid  hills  out  of  the  east,  and  the  bark  was  now 
laboring  in  the  same  sort  of  pyramidal  sea  as  had  run  in  the 
bay,  saving  that  here  the  whole  power  of  the  great  Atlantic 
was  in  each  billow,  and  the  fight  between  the  contending  waters 
was  as  ft  combat  of  mighty  gianta, 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


43 


The  decks  were  full  of  water,  at  frequent  intervals  the  brow 
of  the  sea  rushing  past  us,  swift  as  was  our  own  speed  upon  its 
careering  back,  would . arch  over  the  rail  and  tumble  aboard 
in  a heavy  fall  of  water,  and  the  smoke  of  it  would  rise  from 
the  planks  as  though  the  bark  were  on  fire,  and  make  the 
blackness  forward  of  the  main-mast  hoary.  I sought  in  vain  for 
the  least  break  in  the  dark  ceiling  of  the  sky.  Will  the  vessel 
be  able  to  keep  afloat?  I was  now  all  the  time  asking  m3^se]f. 
Is  it  possible  for  any  structure  put  together  by  human  hands 
to  outlive  such  a night  of  fury  as  this?  As  I have  said,  I was 
no  sailor,  yet  my  ’longshore  training  gave  me  very  readily  to 
know  that  the  best,  if  not  the  only,  chance  for  our  lives  was 
to  get  the  bark  hove-to,  and  leave  her  to  breast  the  seas  and 
live  the  weather  out  as  she  could  with  her  helm  lashed,  and, 
perhaps,  some  bit  of  tarpaulin  in  the  weather-rigging,  to  keep 
her  head  up.  But  this  that  was  to  be  easily  wished  was  inex- 
pressibly perilous  to  attempt  or  achieve,  for,  in  bringing  the 
vessel  to,  it  was  as  likely  as  not  we  should  founder  out  of  hand. 
A single  sea  might  be  enough  to  do  our  business;  and,  failing 
that,  there  was  the  almost  certain  prospect  of  the  decks  being 
swept,  of  every  erection  from  the  taffrail  to  the  bows  being 
carried  away,  ourselves  included,  of  a score  of  leaks  being 
started  by  a single  blow,  and,  even  if  the  girl  and  1 managed 
to  hold  on,  of  the  bark  foundering  under  our  feet. 

Thus  we  rushed  onward,  very  literally  indeed  scudding 
under  bare  poles,  as  it  is  called,  and  for  a long  while  we  had 
neither  of  us  a word  to  exchange,  so  present  was  calamity,  so 
near  was  death,  so  dreadful  was  the  thunderous  sounds  of  the 
night,  so  engrossing  our  business  of  keeping  the  flying  fabric 
dead  before  the  seas. 

I pulled  out  my  watch  and  held  it  hastily  to  the  binnacle 
lamp,  and  found  the  hour  exactly  one.  The  girl  asked  me 
the  time.  This  was  the  first  word  that  had  passed  between  us 
for  a long  while.  I replied,  and  she  said  in  a voice  that  in- 
dicated extraordinary  spirit,  but  that,  nevertheless,  sounded 
languishingly  after  her  earlier  utterance:  ‘‘  Kowthatit  is  past 
midnight,  the  gale  may  break;  surely  such  fierce  weather  can 
not  last  for  many  hours.” 

‘‘  1 wish  you  would  go,”  said  I,  “ and  get  some  refreshment 
for  yourself,  and  lie  down  for  awhile.  I believe  I can  manage 
single-handed  to  keep  the  vessel  before  it.” 

“ If  I lie  down,  it  would  not  be  to  sleep,”  she  answered; 
“ but  if  you  think  1 can  be  spared  from  the  wheel  for  a few 
minutes,  1 will  obtain  some  refreshment  for  us  both,  and  I 
should  also  like  to  see  how  my  father  does.  ” 


MY  DANISH  SWl]ETMKAlll^. 


44 

I answered  that  if  the  helm  was  to  prove  too  heavy  for  me, 
her  help  might  hardly  save  me  from  being  obliged  to  let  go, 

“ Do  not  believe  this/^  she  exclaimed,  “ because  you  now 
know  that  1 am  a girl!^^ 

“I  have  had  no  heart  for  wonderment  as  yet,’’  said  I; 
“ otherwise  my  astonishment  and  admiration  would  reassure 
you,  if  you  suppose  I doubt  your  strength  and  capacity  now 
that  I know  you  to  be  a girl.  A little  refreshment  will  help 
us  both;”  and  I was  going  to  advise  her  to  seize  the  oppor- 
tunity to  attire  herself  in  dry  clothes,  for  1 was  in  oilskins, 
whereas,  so  far  as  I was  able  to  gather,  her  dress  was  a pea- 
jacket  and  a cloth  cap,  and  I knew  that  again  and  again  she 
had  been  soaked  to  the  skin,  and  that  the  wind  pouring  on  her 
would  be  chilling  her  to  her  very  heart.  But  even  amid  such 
a time  as  this  1 was  sensible  of  a diffidence  in  naming  what 
was  in  my  mind,  and  held  my  peace. 

She  left  the  wheel,  and  1 stood  steering  the  bark  single- 
handed,  with  my  eyes  fixed  upon  the  illuminated  compass- 
card,  while  I noticed  that  the  course  the  vessel  was  taking, 
which  always  held  her  dead  before  the  gale,  was  now  above  a 
point,  nay,  perhaps  two  points,  to  the  southward  of  west; 
whence  it  was  clear  the  hurricane  was  veering  northwardly. 

Whether  it  was  because  this  small  shift  in  the  wind  still 
found  the  colliding  seas  traveling  east  and  west,  or  that  some 
heavy  surge  sweeping  its  volume  along  the  starboard  bow 
caused  the  bark  to  “yaw”  widely,  as  it  is  termed,  and  so 
brought  a great  weight  of  billow  against  the  rudder;  be  the 
cause  what  it  will — while  my  eye  was  rooted  upon  the  card, 
the  stern  of  the  vessel  was,  on  a sudden,  run  up  with  the 
velocity  of  a balloon  from  whose  car  all  the  ballast  has  been 
thrown,  the  spokes  were  wrenched  from  my  hand  as  they 
revolved  like  the  driving-wheel  of  a locomotive  in  full  career, 
and  1 was  sent  spinning  against  the  bulwark,  from  which  I 
dropped  upon  my  knees  and  so  rolled  over,  stunned. 

For  all  I could  tell  I might  have  lain  five  minutes  or  five 
hours  without  my  senses.  I believe  I was  brought  to  by  the 
washing  over  of  me  of  the  water  that  lay  in  that  lee-part 
of  the  deck  into  which  1 had  been  flung.  1 sat  ei’ect,  but  for 
a long  while  was  unable  to  collect  my  mind,  so  bewildered  were 
my  brains  by  the  fall  and  so  confounded  besides  by  the  uproar 
round  and  about.  I then  made  out  the  figure,  as  I took  it,  of 
(he  girl,  standing  at  the  wheel,  and  got  on  to  my  legs,  and 
after  fe(3ling  over  myself,  so  to  speak,  to  make  sure  that  all  my 
bones  were  sound,  1 slaggered,  or  rather  clawed  my  way  up  to 
the  wheel;  for  the  bark  seemed  now  to  me  to  be  unon  her 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


46 


beam  ends,  and  rolling  with  dreadful  wildness,  and  there 
were  times  when  the  foaming  waters  rushed  inboards  over  the 
rail  which  she  submerged  to  leeward. 

The  girl  cried  out  when  she  spied  me.  I had  to  draw  close 
indeed  to  be  seen;  it  was  as  black  down  where  I was  thrown 
as  the  inside  of  the  vessers  hold.  She  cried  out,  I say,  utter- 
ing some  Danish  exclamation,  and  then  exclaimed: 

“Oh!  I feared  you  were  lost;  I feared  that  you  had  been 
thrown  overboard;  I ought  not  to  have  left  you  alone  at  the 
wheel.  Tell  me  if  you  are  hurt?^^ 

“ No;  lam  uninjured,*^^  I replied.  “ But  what  has  become 
of  the  ship?  I am  only  just  recovered  from  my  swoon. 

“ Oh!^^  she  cried,  “ she  has  taken  up  the  very  situation  you 
wished  for.  She  has  hove  herself  to.  She  came  broadside 
to  the  sea  after  you  were  flung  from  the  wheel.  We  are  mer- 
cifully watched  over.  We  dared  not  of  ourselves  have  brought 
her  to  the  wind.^^ 

All  my  senses  were  now  active  in  me  once  more,  and  I 
could  judge  for  myself.  It  was  as  the  girl  had  said.  The 
bark  had  fallen  into  the  trough,  had  taken  up  a position  for 
herself,  and  was  shouldering  the  heavy  western  surge  with  her 
bow,  coming  to  and  falling  off  in  rhythmic  sweeps.  Clouds  of 
froth  repeatedly  broke  over  her  forecastle,  but  she  seemed 
while  I then  watched  her  to  rise  buoyant  to  each  black  curl 
of  billow  as  it  took  her  amidships. 

“ Will  you  help  me  to  lash  the  helm?’^  cried  the  girl.  “ It 
is  all  that  the  ‘ Aniiie  ^ will  need,  I am  sure.  She  will  be  able 
to  fight  the  storm  alone  if  we  can  secure  the  wheel. 

Between  us,  we  drove  the  helm  “ hard  a-lee,^^  to  use  the  sea 
term — for  which,  indeed,  it  is  impossible  to  find  an  equivalent, 
though  I trust  to  be  as  sparing  in  this  language  as  the  obliga- 
tion of  explanation  will  permit — and  then,  by  means  of  ropes 
wound  round  the  spokes,  so  bound  the  wheel  as  to  cripple  all 
play  in  it. 

“ Will  she  lie  up  to  the  wind,  do  you  think,^^  said  I,  “ with- 
out some  square  of  canvas  abaft  her  to  keep  her  head  to  it?’^ 

“ I have  been  watching  her.  1 believe  she  will  do  very 
well,^^  the  girl  answered.  “ I feared  that  that  little  head  of 
sail  we  hoisted  in  the  bay  would  blow  her  bows  round,  and, 
by  this  not  happening,  1 suppose  that  sail  is  in  rags.  One 
would  not  have  heard  it  split  in  such  a thunder  of  wind  as 
this.^^ 

“ Have  you  seen  your  father?^' 

“ Yes.  1 was  taking  to  him  when  you  were  thrown  from 


46 


IIY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


the  wheel.  I knew  what  had  happened  by  the  behavior  of  the 
vessel.  I ran  out,  and  feared  you  were  lost. 

“ What  does  he  counsel?’’ 

“ Oh!  it  is  still  his  wish  that  we  should  go  on  putting 
plenty  of  sea  betwixt  us  and  the  land.  But  do  you  notice  that 
the  gale  has  gone  somewhat  into  the  north?  He  will  be  glad 
to  hear  it,  now  that  we  are  no  longer  scudding.  Our  drift 
should  put  us  well  clear  of  the  Land’s  End,  and,  indeed,  1 
dare  say  now  we  are  being  thrust  away  at  several  miles  an  hour 
from  the  coast.  He  is  very  anxious  to  know  if  the  ‘ Anine  ’ 
has  taken  in  water,  and  wishes  me  to  sound  the  well.  1 fear 
I shall  not  be  able  to  do  this  alone.” 

Why  should  you?”  cried  I.  “ You  shall  do  nothing  alone! 
I can  not  credit  that  you  are  a girl!  Such  spirit — such  courage 
—such  knowledge  of  a calling  the  very  last  in  the  wide  world 
that  women  are  likely  to  understand!  Pray  let  me  ask  your 
name?” 

“ Helga  Nielsen,”  she  answered.  “My  father  is  Peter 
Nielsen— Captain  Peter  Nielsen,”  she  repeated.  “ And  your 
name?” 

“ Hugh  Tregarthen,”  said  I. 

“It  is  sad  that  you  should  be  here,”  said  she,  “brought 
away  from  your  home,  suffering  all  this  hardship  and  peril! 
You  came  to  save  our  lives.  God  will  bless  you,  sir.  I pray 
that  the  good  God  may  protect  and  restore  you  to  those  you 
love.” 

Spite  of  the  roar  of  the  wind,  and  the  ceaseless  crashing 
and  seething  sound  of  the  smiting  and  colliding  seas,  1 could 
catch  the  falter  of  emotion  in  her  voice  as  she  pronounced 
these  words,  but  then,  as  you  will  suppose,  we  were  close  to- 
gether, standing  shoulder  to  shoulder  against  the  binnacle,  while 
we  exchanged  these  sentences. 

“ There  is  refreshment  in  the  cabin,”  said  she,  after  a pause 
of  a moment  or  two.  “ You  need  support.  This  has  been  a 
severe  night  of  work  for  you,  sir,  from  the  hour  of  your  put- 
ting off  to  us  in  the  life-boat.’^ 

1 found  myself  smiling  at  the  motherly  tenderness  conveyed 
in  the  tone  of  her  voice.  1 longed  to  have  a clear  view  of  her, 
for  it  was  still  like  talking  in  a pitch-dark  room;  the  binnacle 
lamp  needed  trimming;  its  light  was  feeble,  and  tlie  sky  lay 
horribly  black  over  the  ocean,  that  was  raging,  ghastly  with 
pallid  glances  of  sheets  of  foam,  under  it. 

“ Let  us  first  sound  the  well,  if  possible,”  said  I;  “ for  our 
lives’  sake  we  ought  to  find  out  what  is  happening  below.” 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART, 


4? 


By  this  time  we  had  watched  and  waited  long  enough  to 
satisfy  ourselves  that  the  bark  would  do  as  well  as  we  dared 
hope  with  her  helm  lashed;  and  it  also  happened  very  fortu- 
nately that  her  yards  were  in  the  right  trim  for  the  posture  in 
which  she  lay,  having  been  pointed  to  the  wind — the  fore-yards 
on  one  tack,  the  main-yards  on  the  other — when  the  gale  came 
on  to  blow  in  the  bay,  and  the  braces  had  not  since  been 
touched.  I walked  with  the  girl  to  the  entrance  of  the  deck- 
house, the  door  of  which  faced  forward.  She  entered  the  struct- 
ure, and,  while  I waited  outside,  lighted  a bulPs-eye  lamp, 
with  which  she  rejoined  me,  and  together  we  went  forward  to 
another  house  built  abaft  of  the  galley.  This  had  been  the 
place  in  which  the  crew  slept.  The  carpenter^s  chest  was  here, 
and  also  the  sounding-rod.  We  then  went  to  the  pumps,  and 
while  1 held  the  lamp  she  dropped  the  rod  down  the  sounding- 
pipe,  drew  it  up  and  brought  it  to  the  light  and  examined  it, 
and  named  the  depth  of  water  there  was  in  the  hold.  I do  not 
recollect  the  figure,  but  I remember  that,  though  it  was 
significant,  there  was  nothing  greatly  to  alarm  us  in  it,  seeing 
how  heavily  and  how  frequently  the  bark  had  been  flooded 
with  the  seas,  and  how  much  of  the  water  might  have  made 
its  way  from  above. 

I recount  this  little  passage  in  a few  lines,  yet  it  forms  one 
of  the  most  sharp-cut  of  the  memories  of  my  adventure. 
The  picture  is  before  me  as  I write.  1 see  the  pair  of  us  as  we 
come  to  a dead  stand,  grasping  each  other  for  support,  while 
the  vessel  rolls  madly  over  on  the  slope  of  some  huge  hurtling 
sea;  I see  the  bright  glare  from  the  bulFs-eye  lamp  in  the 
girTs  hand,  dancing  like  a will-o^-the-wisp  upon  the  black 
Hood  betwixt  the  rails  washing  with  the  slant  of  the  decks  to 
our  knees;  1 see  her  dropping  the  rod  down  the  tube,  coolly 
examining  it,  declaring  its  indication;  while,  to  the  flash  of 
the  lamp-light,  I catch  an  instant^s  glimpse  of  her  face,  shin- 
ing out  white — large-eyed  as  it  seemed  tome — upon  the  black- 
ness rushing  in  thunder  athwart  the  deck. 

She  led  the  way  into  the  deck-house.  There  was  a small 
lantern  wildly  swinging  at  a central  beam— my  companion 
had  lighted  it  when  she  procured  the  bulTs-eye  lamp — it 
diSused  a good  luster,  and  I could  see  very  plainly.  It  was 
just  a plain,  ordinary,  shipboard  interior,  with  three  little 
windows  of  a side,  a short  table,  lockers  on  either  hand,  and 
a sleeping-berth,  or  cabin,  designed  for  the  captain^s  use,  aft; 
the  companion-hatch,  w^hich  led  to  the  deck  below,  W'^as  be- 
twixt the  after  end  of  the  cabin  and  the  bulkhead  of  the  berth, 
but  the  rapid  glance  I threw  around  speedily  settled,  as  you 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


4^ 

may  suppose,  into  a look — a long  look — full  of  curiosity,  sur* 
prise,  and  admiration,  at  the  girl. 

She  stood  beforo  me  dressed  as  a sailor  lad,  in  a suit  of  pilot 
cloth  and  a red  silk  handkerchief  round  her  throat,  but  her  first 
act  on  entering  was  to  remove  her  cloth  cap,  that  was  stream- 
ing wet,  and  throw  it  down  upon  the  table;  and  thus  she  stood 
with  her  eyes  fixed  on  me,  as  mine  were  on  her,  each  of  us 
surveying  the  other.  Her  hair  was  cut  short,  and  was  rough 
and  plentiful,  without  remains  of  any  sort  of  fashion  in  the 
wearing  of  it — nay,  indeed,  it  was  unparted.  It  was  very  fair 
hair,  and  as  pale  as  amber  in  the  lamp-light.  Her  eyebrows 
were  of  a darker  color,  and  very  perfectly  arched,  as  though 
penciled.  It  was  impossible  to  guess  the  hue  of  her  eyes  by 
that  light:  they  seemed  of  a very  dark  blue,  such  as  might  prove 
violet  in  the  sunshine,  soft  and  liquid,  and  of  an  expression 
even  in  that  hour  of  peril,  of  the  horror  of  tempest,  of  the 
prospect  of  death — indeed,  that  might  make  one  readily  suppose 
her  of  a nature  both  sweet  and  merry.  There  was  no  sign  of 
exposure  to  the  weather  upon  her  face;  she  was  white  with 
the  paleness  of  fatigue  and  emotion.  Her  cheeks  were  plump, 
her  mouth  small,  the  under  lip  a little  pouted,  and  her  teeth 
pearl-like  and  very  regular.  Even  by  the  light  in  which  I now 
surveyed  her  I never  for  a moment  could  have  mistaken  her 
for  a lad.  There  was  nothing  in  her  garb  to  neutralize  for  an 
instant  the  suggestions  of  her  sex. 

“ I will  take  you  to  my  father,^^  said  she,  “ but  you  must 
first  eat  and  drink.^^ 

1 could  not  have  told  how  exhausted  I was  until  I sunk  down 
upon  a locker  and  rested  my  arms  upon  the  table.  I was  too 
wearied  to  ask  the  questions  that  1 should  have  put  to  her  at 
another  time,  and  could  do  no  more  than  watch  her,  with  a 
sort  of  dull  wonder  at  her  nimbleness,  and  the  spirit  and  reso- 
lution of  her  movements  as  she  lifted  the  lid  of  the  locker  and 
produced  a case-bottle  of  Hollands,  some  cold  meat,  and  a tin 
of  white  biscuits. 

“ We  have  no  bread, said  she,  smiling;  “ we  obtained  some 
loaves  off  the  Isle  of  Wight,  but  the  last  was  eaten  yesterday. 

She  took  a tumbler  from  a rack  and  mixed  a draught  of  the 
Hollands  with  some  water  which  she  got  from  a filter  fixed  to 
a stanchion,  and  extended  the  glass. 

“Pray  let  me  follow  you,^^  said  1.  She  shook  her  head. 
“ Yes!^^  I Cried,  “ God  knows  you  should  need  some  such  tonic 
more  than  I!^^ 

I induced  her  to  drink,  and  then  took  the  glass  and  emptied 
it.  A second  dram  warmed  and  heartened  t woo  ^ith- 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


49 


out  appetite,  but  was  willing  to  eat  for  the  sake  of  such  strength 
as  might  come  from  a meal.  The  girl  made  herself  a sand- 
wich of  biscuit  and  meat,  and  we  fell  to.  And  so  we  sat  facing 
each  other,  eating,  staring  at  each  other;  the  pair  of  us  all 
the  while  hearkening  with  all  our  ears  to  the  roaring  noises  out- 
side, to  the  straining  sounds  within  the  ship,  and  feeling — I 
speak  of  myself — with  every  nerve  tense  as  a fiddle-string,  the 
desperate  slants  and  falls  and  uprisals  of  the  deck  or  platform 
upon  which  our  feet  rested. 


CHAPTER  V. 

DAWN. 

There  was  refreshment,  however,  to  every  sense,  beyond 
language  to  express,  in  the  shelter  which  this  deck-house  pro- 
vided after  our  long  term  of  exposure  to  the  pouring  of  the 
raging  gale,  into  which  was  put  the  further  weight  of  volumes 
of  spray,  that  swept  to  the  face  like  leaden  hail,  and  carried 
the  shriek  of  the  shot  of  musketry  as  it  slung  past  the  ear.  It 
was  calm  in  this  deck-house;  the  deafening  sounds  without 
came  somewhat  muffled  here;  but  the  furious  motion  of  the 
vessel  was  star tingly  illustrated  by  the  play  of  the  hanging  lan- 
tern, and  the  swing  of  the  illuminated  globe  was  mad^e  the 
wilder  and  more  wonderful  by  the  calm  of  the  atmosphere  in 
which  it  oscillated. 

“ I do  not  think  the  sea  is  breaking  over  the  ship,^^  said  the 
girl,  gazing  at  me  in  a posture  of  listening.  “ It  is  hard  to 
tell.  I feel  no  tremble  as  of  the  fall  of  water  on  the  deck.^^ 

“ She  is  battling  bravely,^^  said  I;  “ but  what  now  would  I 
give  for  even  a couple  of  those  men  of  yours  who  jumped  into 
the  life-boat!  It  is  our  being  so  few — two  of  us  only,  and  you 
a woman — that  makes  our  situation  so  hard.^^ 

“ I have  not  the  strength  of  a man,^^  said  she,  with  a smile, 
and  fastening  her  soft  eyes  on  my  face;  “ but  you  will  find  I 
have  the  heart  of  one.  Will  you  come  now  and  see  my 
father?^  ^ 

I at  once  rose  and  followed  her.  She  knocked  upon  a little 
door  where  the  bulkhead  partitioned  off  the  inner  cabin,  and 
then  entered,  bidding  me  follow  her. 

A cot  swung  from  the  upper  deck,  and  in  it  sat  a man 
almost  upright,  his  back  supported  by  bolsters  and  pillows;  a 
bracket  lamp  burned  steadily  over  a table,  upon  which  lay  a 
bbok  or  two,  a chart,  a few  nautical  instruments,  and  the 
like.  There  was  no  convenience  for  dressing,  T 


50 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


that  this  had  been  a sort  o£  chart-room  which  the  captain  had 
chosen  to  occupy  that  lie  might  bo  easily  and  without  delay 
within  hail  or  reach  of  the  deck. 

He  was  a striking-looking  man,  with  coal-black  hair,  parted 
oil  one  side,  lying  very  fiat  upon  his  head,  and  curling  down 
upon  his  back.  He  wore  a long  goat-beard  and  mustache, 
and  was  somewhat  grim  with  several  days’  growth  of  whisker 
upon  his  cheeks;  his  brows  were  thickly  thatched,  his  forehead 
low,  his  eyes  very  dark,  small,  and  penetrating.  He  was  of  a 
death-like  whiteness,  and  showed,  to  my  fancy,  as  a man 
whose  days  were  numbered.  That  his  disease  was  something 
more  than  rheumatism  there  was  no  need  to  look  at  him  twice 
to  make  sure  of.  His  daughter  addressed  him  in  the  Danish 
tongue,  then,  recollecting  herself,  with  a half  glance  at  me  of 
timid  apology,  she  exclaimed: 

‘‘  Father,  this  is  Mr.  Hugh  Tregarthen,  the  noble  gentleman 
who  commanded  the  life-boat,  who  risked  his  life  to  save  ours, 
and  I pray  that  God  of  His  love  for  brave  spirits  may  restore 
him  in  safety  to  those  who  are  dear  to  him.’’ 

Captain  Nielsen,  with  a face  contracted  into  a look  of  pain 
by  emotion,  extended  his  hand  in  silence  over  the  edge  of  his 
cot.  I grasped  it  in  silence  too.  It  was  ice  cold.  He  held  me, 
gazing  for  awhile,  without  speech,  into  my  eyes,  and  I thought 
to  see  him  shed  tears;  then,  putting  his  other  hand  upon  mine 
in  a caressing  gesture,  and  letting  it  go,  for  the  swing  of  the 
cot  would  not  permit  him  to  retain  that  posture  of  holding 
my  hand  for  above  a moment  or  two,  he  exclaimed  in  a low 
but  quite  audible  voice:  “ I ask  the  good  and  gracious  God  of 
heaven  and  earth  to  bless  you,  for  her  sake— for  my  Helga’s 
sake — and  in  the  name  of  those  who  have  perished  but  whom 
you  would  have  saved!” 

‘‘  Captain  Nielses,”  said  I,  greatly  moved  by  his  manner 
and  looks,  would  it  had  pleased  Heaven  that  I should  have 
been  of  solid  use  to  you  and  your  men.  I grieve  to  find  you  in 
this  helpless  state.  1 hope  you  do  not  suffer?” 

“ While  I rest  I am  without  pain,”  he  answered;  and  I now 
observed  that  though  his  accent  had  a distinctly  Scandinavian 
harshness,  such  as  was  softened  in  his  daughter's  speech  by  the 
clearness— I may  say,  by  the  melody — of  her  tones,  his  English 
was  as  purely  pronounced  as  hers.  “ But  if  I move,”  he  con- 
tinued, “ I am  in  agony.  I can  not  stand;  my  legs  are  as  idle 
and  as  helpless  as  though  iri’  nlyzed.  But  now  tell  me  of  the 
‘Anine,’  Helga,”  he  cried,  with  a look  of  pathetic  eager 
yearning  entering  his  face  as  he  addressed  her.  ” Have  you 
sounded  the  well?” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


61 


What  water,  my  child?^^  She  told  him.  he  ex- 

claimed, with  a sudden  fretfulness;  “the  pump  should  be 
manned  without  delay;  but  who  is  there  to  work  it?^^ 

“ We  two  will,  very  shortly,'^  she  exclaimed,  turning  to  me; 

“ we  require  a little  breathing  time.  Mr,  Tregarthen  and 
said  she,  still  talking  with  her  soft  appealing  eye  upon  me, 
“have  strength,  or,  at  all  events,  courage  enough  to  give  us 
strength;  and  he  will  help  me  in  whatever  we  may  think  need- 
ful to  save  the  ‘ Anine  ^ and  our  lives. 

“ Indeed,  yes!^^  said  I. 

“ Pray  sit,  both  of  you,^^  cried  Captain  Nielsen;  “ pray  rest. 
Helga,  have  you  seen  to  the  gentleman^s  comfort?  Has  he 
had  any  refreshment?^^ 

She  answered  him,  and  seated  herself  upon  a little  locker, 
inviting  me  v/ith  a look  to  sit  beside  her,  for  there  was  no 
other  accommodation  in  that  cabin  than  the  locker. 

“ 1 wish  I could  persuade  your  daughter  to  take  some  rest,^^ 
paid  L “ Her  clothes,  too,  are  soaked  through 

“ It  is  salt  water/^  said  Captain  Nielsen;  “ it  will  not  harm 
her.  She  is  very  used  to  salt  water,  sir;’^  and  then  he  ad- 
dressed his  daughter  in  Danish.  The  resemblance  of  some  words 
he  used  to  our  English  made  me  suppose  he  spoke  about  her 
resting, 

“ The  pumps  must  be  worked,^^  said  she,  looking  at  me; 

“ we  must  keep  the  bark  afloat  first  of  all,  Mr.  Tregarthen. 
How  trifling  is  want  of  sleep,  how  insignificant  the  discomfort 
of  damp  clothes,  at  such  a time  as  this!’^ 

She  opened  her  jacket  and  drew  a silver  watch  from  her 
pocket,  and  then  took  a bottle  of  medicine  and  a wine-glass 
from  a small  circular  tray  swinging  by  thin  chains  near  the 
cot,  and  gave  her  father  a dose.  He  began  now  to  question 
us,  occasionally  in  his  hurry  and  eagerness  speaking  in  the 
Danish  language.  He  asked  about  the  masts — if  they  were 
sound,  if  any  sails  had  been  split,  if  the  “ Anine  had  met 
with  any  injury  apart  from  the  loss  of  her  two  boats,  of  which 
he  had  evidently  been  informed  by  his  daughter.  A flush  ol^ 
temper  came  into  his  white  cheeks  when  he  talked  of  his  men. 

He  called  the  carpenter  Damm  a villain,  said  that  had  he  had 
his  way  the  bark  never  would  have  brought  up  in  that  bay, 
that  Damm  had  carried  her  there,  as  he  now  believed,  as  much 
out  of  spite  as  out  of  recklessness,  hoping  no  doubt  that  the 
“ Anine  would  go  ashore,  but  of  course  taking  it  for  granted 
that  the  crevv  would  be  rescued.  He  shook  his  fist  as  he  pro- 
nounced the  carpenter’s  name,  and  then  groap^|(|^ud  with 

UNivERsin  OF  mm 


52 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


anguish  to  some  movement  of  his  limbs  brought  about  by  hia 
agitation.  He  lay  quiet  a little  and  grew  calm,  and  talked, 
with  his  thin  fingers  locked  upon  his  breast.  He  informed 
me  that  the  “ Anine  was  his  ship,  that  he  had  spent  some 
hundreds  of  pounds  in  equiping  her  for  this  voyage,  that  he  had 
some  risk  in  the  cargo,  and  that,  in  a word,  all  that  he  was 
worth  in  the  wide  world  was  in  this  fabric,  now  heavily  and 
often  madly  laboring,  unwatched,  amid  the  blackness  of  the 
night  of  hurricane. 

“ Your  daughter  and  I must  endeavor  to  preserve  her  for 
you,^^  said  I. 

May  the  blessed  God  grant  itV^  he  cried.  And  how 
good  and  heroic  are  you  to  speak  thus!’^  said  he,  looking  at  me. 
“ Surely  your  great  Nelson  was  right  when  he  called  us  Danes 
the  brothers  of  the  English.  Brothers  in  affection  may  our 
countries  ever  be!  We  have  given  you  a sweet  princess — that 
is  a debt  it  will  tax  your  people^s  generosity  to  repay. The 
soft  smile  that  lighted  up  his  face  as  he  spoke  made  me  see  a 
resemblance  in  him  to  his  daughter.  It  was  like  throwing  a 
light  upon  a picture.  He  was  now  looking  at  her  with  an  ex- 
pression full  of  tenderness  and  concern. 

“ Mr— Mr. — he  began. 

Tregarthen,^^  said  his  daughter. 

‘‘  Ay,  Mr.  Tregarthen,^Mie  continued,  will  wonder  that  a 
girl  should  be  clad  as  you  are,  Helga.  Were  you  ever  in 
Denmark,  sir?^^ 

“ Never,’^  I replied. 

“ You  will  not  suppose,  I hope,^^  said  he,  with  another  soft, 
engaging  smile  that  was  pathetic  also  with  the  meaning  it  took 
from  his  white  face,  “ that  Helga^s  attire  is  the  costume  of 
Danish  ladies?^^ 

“ Oh,  no,^^  said  I.  ‘‘  I see  how  it  is.  Indeed,  Miss  Nielsen 
explained.  The  dress  is  a whim.  And  then  it  is  a very  con- 
venient shipboard  dress.  But  she  should  not  be  suffered  to  do 
the  rough  work  of  a sailor.  Will  you  believe.  Captain  Niel- 
sen, that  she  went  out  upon  the  bowsprit,  and  cut  adrift  or 
loosed  the  staysail  there  when  your  bark  was  on  her  beam  ends 
in  the  trough  of  the  sea?^^ 

He  nodded  with  emphasis,  and  said:  ‘‘That  is  nothing, 
Helga  has  been  to  sea  with  me  now  for  six  years  running.  It  is 
her  delight  to  dress  herself  in  boy's  clothes — ay,  and  to  go 
aloft  and  do  the  work  of  a seaman.  It  has  hardened  and 
spoiled  her  hands,  but  it  has  left  her  face  fair  to  see.  She  is 
a good  girl;  she  loves  her  poor  father;  she  is  motherless,  Mr. 
Tregarthen.  Wore  my  dear  wife  alive  Helga  would  not  be 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  SS 

liere.  She  is  my  only  child and  he  made  as  if  to  extend  his 
arms  to  her,  but  immediately  crossed  his  hands,  again  ad- 
dressing her  in  Danish  as  though  he  blessed  her. 

I could  perceive  the  spirit  in  her  struggling  with  the  weakness 
that  this  talk  induced.  She  conquered  her  emotions  with  a 
glance  at  me  that  was  one  almost  of  pride,  as  though  she  would 
bid  me  observe  that  she  was  mistress  of  herself,  and  said,  chang- 
ing the  subject,  but  not  abruptly:  “ Father,  do  you  think  the 
vessel  can  struggle  on  without  being  watched  or  helped  from 
the  deck?^^ 

“What  can  be  done?^^  he  cried.  “ The  helm  is  securely 
lashed  hard  a-lee?^^  8he  nodded.  “ What  can  be  done?^^  he 
repeated.  “ Your  standing  at  the  wheel  would  be  of  no  use. 
What  is  the  trim  of  the  yards 

“ They  lie  as  they  were  braced  up  in  the  bay,^^  she  responded. 

“I  have  been  in  ships,^^  said  he,  “ that  always  managed 
best  when  left  alone  in  hard  weather  of  this  kind.  There  was 
the  old  ‘ Dannebrog,^  he  went  on,  with  his  eyes  seeming  to 
glisten  to  some  sudden  stir  of  happy  memory  in  him.  “ Twice 
when  I was  in  her — once  in  the  Baltic,  once  in  the  South  At- 
lantic— we  met  with  gales,  w^ell,  perhaps,  not  such  a gale  as 
this;  but  it  blew  very  fiercely,  Mr.  Tregarthen.  The  captain, 
my  old  friend  Sorensen,  knew  her  as  he  knew  his  wife.  He 
pointed  the  yards,  lashed  the  helm,  sent  the  crew  below  and 
waited,  smoking  his  pipe,  in  the  cabin  till  the  weather  broke. 
She  climbed  the  seas  dryly,  and  no  whale  could  have  made 
better  weather  of  it.  A ship  has  an  intelligence  of  her  own. 
It  is  the  spirit  of  the  sea  that  comes  into  her,  as  into  the  birds 
or  fish  of  the  ocean.  Observe  how  long  a vessel  will  wash 
about  after  her  crew  have  abandoned  her.  They  might  have 
sunk  her  had  they  stayed,  not  understanding  her.  Much 
must  be  left  to  chance  at  sea,  Helga.  No;  there  is  nothing 
to  be  done.  Damm  reported  the  hatch-covers  on  and  every- 
thing secure  while  in  the  bay.  It  is  so  still,  of  course.  Yet  it 
will  ease  my  mind  to  know  she  is  a little  freed  of  the  water  in 
her.^^ 

“ I am  ready  cried  I.  “Is  the  pump  too  heavy  for  my 
arms  alone?  I can  not  bear  to  think  of  your  daughter  toiling 
upon  that  wet  and  howling  deck. 

“ She  will  not  spare  herself,  though  you  should  wish  it,^^ 
said  her  father.  “ What  is  the  hour,  my  dear?^^ 

She  looked  at  her  watch.'  “ Twenty  minutes  after  two. 

“A  weary  long  time  yet  to  wait  forthedawnP^  said  he. 
“ And  it  is  Sunday  morning — a day  of  rest  for  all  the  world 
save  for  the  mariner.  But  it  is  God^s  own  day,  and  when 


tii 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


next  Sabbath  comes  I’ound  we  may  be  worshiping  Him  ashore^p 
and  thanking  Him  for  our  preservation/^ 

As  he  pronounced  these  words,  Helga,  as  I will  henceforth 
call  her,  giving  me  a glance  of  invitation,  quitted  the  berth, 
and  I followed  her  into  the  cabin,  as  1 may  term  the  interior 
of  the  deck-house.  She  picked  up  the  buirs-eyo  lamp  and 
trimmed  the  mesh  of  it,  and,  arming  herself  with  the  sound- 
ing-rod, stepped  on  to  the  deck.  1 watched  her  movements 
with  astonishment  and  admiration.  I should  have  believed 
that  I possessed  fairly  good  sea-legs,  even  for  a wilder  play  of 
plank  than  this  which  was  now  tossing  us;  nevertheless,  1 
never  dared  let  go  with  my  hands,  and  there  were  moments 
when  the  upheaval  was  so  swift,  the  fall  so  sickening,  that  my 
brain  reeled  again,  and  to  have  saved  my  life  I could  not  have 
stirred  the  distance  of  a pace  until  the  sensation  had  passed. 
But  excepting  an  occasional  pause,  an  infrequent  grasp  at  what 
was  next  her  during  some  unusually  heavy  roll,  Helga  moved 
with  almost  the  same  sort  of  ease  that  must  have  been  visible 
in  her  on  a level  floor.  Her  figure  indeed  seemed  to  float;  it 
swayed  to  the  rolling  of  the  deck  as  a bubble  hovers  perpen- 
dicular upon  the  pipe-stem  you  sharply  incline  under  it. 

After  the  comparative  calm  of  the  shelter  1 stepped  from, 
the  uproar  of  the  gale  seemed  as  though  it  were  blowing  as 
hard  again  as  at  the  time  of  our  quitting  the  deck.  The  noise 
of  the  rushing  and  roaring  waters  was  deafening;  as  the  vessel 
brought  her  masts  to  the  windward,  the  screaming  and  whistling 
aloft  are  not  to  be  imagined.  The  wind  was  clouded  with 
spray,  the  decks  sobbed  furiously  with  wet,  and  it  was  still  as 
pitch-black  as  ever  it  had  been  at  any  hour  of  the  night. 
Helga  threw  the  light  of  the  bulTs-eye  upon  the  pump-brake 
or  handle,  and  we  then  fell  to  work.  At  intervals  we  could 
contrive  to  hear  each  other  speak — that  is  to  say,  in  some  mo- 
mentary lull,  when  the  bark  was  in  the  heart  of  a valley  ere 
she  rose  to  the  next  thunderous  acclivity,  yelling  in  her  rigging 
with  the  voice  of  a wounded  giantess.  For  how  long  we  stuck 
to  that  dismal  clanking  job  I can  not  remember.  The  water 
gushed  copiously  as  we  plied  the  handle,  and  the  foam  was  all 
about  our  feet  as  though  we  stood  in  a half  fathom’s  depth  of 
surf.  I was  amazed  by  the  endurance  and  pluck  of  the  girl, 
and,  indeed,  1 found  half  my  strength  in  her  courage.  Had  1 
been  alone,  I am  persuaded  1 should  have  given  up.  The 
blow  of  the  wheel  that  liad  da-heo  mo  into  unconst  iousnoss, 
coming  on  top  of  my  pian  h>us  labors,  not  to  speak  of  that  ex- 
haustion of  mind  which  follows  upon  such  distress  of  heart  as 
my  situation  and  the  memory  of  my  foundered  boat  and  the 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


55 


possible  loss  of  all  her  people  had  occasioned  in  me,  must  have 
proved  too  much  but  for  the  example  and  influence,  the  in- 
spiriting presence  of  this  little  Danish  lioness,  Helga. 

In  one  of  those  intervals  I have  spoReii  of,  she  cried  out: 
‘‘  We  have  done  enough — for  the  present;’^  and  so  saying  she 
let  go  of  the  pump-handle  and  asked  me  to  hold  the  lamp 
while  she  dropped  the  rod.  I had  supposed  our  efforts  insig- 
nificant, and  was  surprised  to  learn  that  we  had  sunk  the  water 
by  some  inches.  We  returned  to  the  deck-house,  but  scarcely 
had  I entered  it  when  I was  seized  with  exhaustion  so  prostrat- 
ing that  I fell,  rather  than  seated  myself,  upon  the  locker,  and 
hid  my  face  in  my  arms  upon  the  table  till  the  sudden  dark- 
ness should  have  passed  from  my  eyes.  When,  presently,  1 
looked  up,  I found  Helga  at  my  side  with  a glass  of  spirits  in 
her  hand.  There  was  a wonderful  anxiety  and  compassion  in 
her  gaze. 

“ Drink  this!^^  said  she.  “ The  work  has  been  too  hard  for 
you.  It  is  my  fault— I am  sorry— I am  sorry. 

I swallowed  the  draught,  and  was  the  better  for  it. 

This  weakness, said  I,  “must  come  from  the  blow  I got 
on  deck.  I have  kept  you  from  your  father.  He  will  want 
your  report,^^  and  I stood  up. 

She  gave  me  her  arm,  and  but  for  that  support  I believe  I 
should  not  have  been  able  to  make  my  way  to  the  captain^s 
berth,  so  weak  did  I feel  in  the  limbs,  so  paralyzing  to  my 
condition  of  prostration  was  the  violent  motion  of  the  deck. 

Captain  Nielsen  looked  eagerly  at  us  over  the  edge  of  his  cot. 
Helga  would  not  release  me  until  I was  seated  on  the  locker. 

“ Mr.  Tregarthen^s  strength  has  been  overtaxed,  father,^^ 
said  she. 

“ Poor  man!  poor  mauT^  he  cried.  “ God  will  bless  him. 
He  has  suffered  much  for  us.^^ 

“It  must  be  a weakness,  following  m.y  having  been  stunned/' 
said  I,  ashamed  of  myself  that  1 should  be  in  need  of  a giri's 
pity  at  such  a time — the  pity  of  a girl,  too,  who  was  sharing 
my  labors  and  danger. 

“ What  have  you  to  tell  me,  Helga?^^  exclaimed  the  captain. 

She  answered  him  in  Danish,  and  they  exchanged  some  sen- 
tences in  that  tongue. 

“ She  is  a tight  ship,'^  cried  the  captain,  addressing  me; 
“ it  is  good  news,'''  he  went  on,  his  white  countenance  lighted 
up  with  an  expression  of  exultation,  “to  hear  that  you  two 
should  be  able  to  control  the  water  in  the  hold.  Does  the 
weather  seem  to  moderate?" 

“ No,"  said  I,  “ it  blows  as  hard  as  ever  it 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


55 


Does  the  see,  break  aboard 

“ There  is  plenty  of  water  washing  about/ ^ said  I,  “ but  tbe^ 
vessel  seems  to  be  making  a brave  fight. 

“ When  daylight  comes,  Helga/'  said  he,  “ you  will  hoist  a 
distress  color  at  the  mizzen-peak.  If  the  peak  bo  wrecked  or 
the  halyards  gone,  the  flag  must  be  seized  to  the  mizzen- 
shrouds. 

“ I will  see  to  all  that,  father,^^  she  answered;  “ and  now, 
Mr.  Tregarthen,  you  will  take  some  rest.^^ 

1 could  not  bear  the  idea  of  sleeping  while  she  remained  up; 
yet  though  neither  of  us  could  be  of  the  least  use  on  deck, 
our  both  resting  at  once  could  not  be  thought  of,  if  it  was 
only  for  the  sake  of  the  comfort  that  was  to  be  got  out  of 
knowing  that  there  was  somebody  awake  and  on  watch. 

“ I will  gladly  rest,^^  said  I,  “ on  condition  that  you  now  lie 
down  and  sleep  for  two  or  three  hours. 

She  answered  no;  she  was  less  tired  than  1;  she  had  not  un- 
dergone what  1 bad  suffered  in  the  life-boat.  She  begged  me 
to  take  some  repose. 

“ It  is  my  selfishness  that  entreats  you,^^  said  she;  if  you 
break  down  what  are  my  father  and  I to  do?^^ 

“ True,^^  I exclaimed,  “ but  the  three  of  us  would  be  worse 
off  still  if  you  were  to  break  down. 

However,  as  I saw  that  she  was  very  much  in  earnest,  while 
her  father  also  joined  her  in  entreating  me  to  rest,  I consent- 
ed on  her  agreeing  first  to  remove  her  soaking  clothes,  for  it 
was  miserable  to  see  her  shivering  from  time  to  time  and  look- 
ing as  though  she  had  just  been  dragged  over  the  side,  and  yet 
bravely  disregarding  the  discomfort,  smiling  as  often  as  she  ad- 
dressed me  and  conversing  with  her  father  with  a face  of 
scrutiny,  plainly  striving  to  soothe  and  reassure  him  by  an  air 
of  cheerful  confidence. 

She  left  the  cabin,  and  Captain  Nielsen  talked  of  her  at  once; 
told  me  that  her  mother  was  an  English  woman,  that  he  was 
married  in  London,  in  which  city  he  had  lived  from  time  to 
time,  that  Helga  had  received  a part  of  her  education  at  New- 
castle-on-Tyne,  where  his  wife^s  family  then  lived,  though  they 
wore  now  scattered,  or  perhaps  dead,  only  one  member  to  his 
knowledge  still  residing  at  Newcastle.  He  took  Helga  to  sea 
with  him,  he  said,  after  his  wife  died,  that  he  might  have 
her  under  his  eye,  and  such  was  her  love  for  the  sea,  such  her 
intelligent  interest  in  everything  which  concerned  the  ship,  that 
she  could  do  as  much  with  a vessel  as  he  himself,  and  had  often, 
at  her  own  request,  taken  charge  for  a watch,  during  which 
she  had  shortened  «.nrl  put  the  craft  abo  ‘ 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAKT. 


67 


in  short,  she  had  been  skipper.  The  poor  man  seemed  to  for- 
get his  miserable  situation  while  he  spoke  of  Helga.  His  heart 
was  full  of  her;  his  eyes  swam  with  tears,  while  he  cried:  “ It 
is  not  that  1 fear  death  for  myself,  nor  for  myself  do  1 dread 
the  loss  of  my  ship,  which  would  signify  beggary  for  me  arid 
my  child.  It  is  for  her — for  my  little  Helga.  We  have 
many  friends  at  Holding,  where  I was  born,  and  at  Bjert, 
Vonsild,  Skandrup,  and  at  other  places.  But  who  will  help 
the  orphan?  My  friends  are  not  rich — they  could  do  little,  no 
matter  how  generous  their  will,  I pray  God,  for  my  child's 
sake,  that  we  may  be  preserved— ay,  and  for  your  sake — I 
should  have  said  that,''  he  added,  feebly  smiling,  though  his 
face  was  one  of  distress. 

He  was  beginning  to  question  me  about  my  home,  and  I 
was  telling  him  that  my  mother  was  living,  an  J uiat  she  and 
1 were  alone  in  the  world,  and  that  I feared  would  think 
me  drowned,  and  grieve  till  her  heart  broke,  for  she  was  an 
old  lady,  and  1 was  her  only  son,  as  Helga  was  his  only  daugh- 
ter, when  the  girl  entered,  and  I broke  off.  She  had  changed 
her  attire,  but  her  clothes  were  still  those  of  a lad.  I had 
thought  to  see  her  come  in  dressed  as  a woman,  and  she  so 
interpreted  the  look  I fastened  upon  her,  for  she  at  once  said 
without  the  least  air  of  confusion,  as  though,  indeed,  she  were 
sensible  of  nothing  in  her  apparel  that  demanded  an  excuse 
from  her:  “I  must  preserve  my  sailor's  garb  until  the  fine 
weather  comes.  How  should  1 be  able  to  move  about  the 
decks  in  a gown?^' 

“Helga,"  cried  her  father,  “Mr.  Tregarthen  is  the  only 
son  of  his  mother,  and  she  awaits  his  return." 

Instantly  entered  an  expression  of  beautiful  compassion 
into  her  soft  eyes.  Her  gaze  fell,  and  she  remained  for  a few 
moments  silent,  the  lamp-light  shone  upon  her  tumbled  hair, 
and  I am  without  words  to  make  you  see  the  sweet  sorrowful 
expression  of  her  pale  face  as  she  stood  close  against  the  door, 
silent  and  looking  down, 

“I  have  kept  my  word,  Mr.  Tregarthen,"  said  she,  pres- 
ently. “Now  you  will  keep  yours  and  rest  yourself.  There 
is  my  father's  cabin  below. " 

I interrupted  her:  “ No;  if  you  please,  I will  lie  down  upon 
one  of  the  lockers  in  the  deck-house." 

“ It  will  make  a hard  bed,"  said  she. 

“ Not  too  hard  for  me,"  said  1. 

“ Well,  you  shall  lie  down  upon  one  of  those  lockers,  and 
you  shall  be  comfortable,  too;"  and,  saying  this,  she  wentbut 
again,  and  shortly  afterward  returned  with  some  rugs  and  a 


58 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


bolster.  These  she  placed  upon  the  lee  locker,  and  a minute 
or  two  later  I had  shaken  the  poor  captain  by  the  hand,  and 
had  stretched  myself  upon  the  rugs,  where  I lav  listening  to 
the  thunder  of  the  gale  and  following  the  wild  motions  of  the 
bark,  and  thinking  of  v/liat  had  happened  since  the  life-boat 
summons  had  rung  me  into  this  black  and  frothing  and  roar- 
ing night  from  my  snug  fireside. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  I feel  asleep.  I had  under- 
gone some  life-boat  experiences  in  my  time,  but  never  before 
was  nature  so  exhausted  in  me.  The  roaring  of  the  gale,  the 
cannonading  of  the  deck-house  by  incessant  heavy  showerings 
of  water,  the  extravagant  motions  of  the  plunging  and  rolling 
vessel,  might  have  been  a mother^s  lullaby  sung  by  the  side  of  a 
gently  rocked  cradle,  so  deep  was  the  slumber  these  sounds  of 
thunder  left  unvexed. 

I awoke  from  a dreamless,  death-like  sleep,  and  opened  my 
eyes  against  the  light  of  the  cold  stone-gray  dawn,  and  my 
mind  instantly  coming  to  me,  I sprung  from  the  locker,  paus- 
ing to  guess  at  the  weather  from  the  movement  and  the  sound. 
So  far  as  I might  there  know  it  was  still  blowing  a whole  gale 
of  wind,  and  I was  unable  to  stand  without  grasping  the  table 
for  support.  The  deck-house  door  was  shut,  and  the  planks 
within  were  dry,  though  1 could  hear  the  water  gushing  and 
pouring  in  the  alley  betwixt  the  deck-house  and  the  bulwarks. 
I thought  to  take  a view  of  the  weather  through  one  of  the 
windows,  but  the  glass  was  everywhere  blind  with  wet. 

At  this  moment  the  door  of  the  captain^s  berth  was  opened, 
and  Hefga  stepped  out.  She  immediately  approached  me 
with  both  hands  extended  in  the  most  cordial  manner  im-’ 
aginable. 

“ You  have  slept  well,^^  she  cried;  I bent  over  you  three 
or  four  times.  You  are  the  better  for  the  rest,  1 am  sure.^^ 

“ I am,  indeed!^^  said  I.  And  j^ou?^^ 

‘‘  Oh,  I shall  sleep  by  and  by.  What  shall  we  do  for  hot 
water?  It  is  impossible  to  light  the  galley  fire;  yet  how  grate- 
ful would  be  a cup  of  hot  tea  or  coffee 

“ Have  you  been  on  deck,^^  said  I,  “ while  I slept?” 

“ Oh,  yes,  in  and  out,^^  she  answered.  “ All  is  well  so  far 
— I mean,  the  ‘ Anino  " goes  on  making  a brave  fight.  The 
dawn  has  not  long  broken.  I have  not  yet  seen  the  ship  by 
daylight.  We  must  sound  the  well,  Mr.  Tregartlien,  before 
we  break  our  fast — my  fear  is  there,”  she  added,  pointing  to 
the  deck,  by  which  she  signified  the  hold. 

There  was  but  little  of  Jier  face  to  bo  seen.  She  was  wear- 
ing an  India-rubber  cap  shaped  like  a sou'-wester,  the  brim  of 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEAKT. 


69 


which  came  low,  while  the  flannel  ear-flaps  almost  smothered 
her  cheeks.  I could  now  see,  however,  that  her  eyes  were  of  a 
dark  blue,  with  a spirit  of  life  and  even  of  vivacity  in  them 
that  expressed  a wonderful  triumph  of  heart  over  the  languor 
of  frame  indicated  by  the  droop  of  the  eyelids.  A little  of 
her  short  hair  of  pale  gold  showed  under  the  hinder  thatch  of 
the  sou^-wester;  her  face  was  blanched.  But  I could  not 
look  at  the  pretty  mouth,  the  pearl-like  teeth,  the  soft  blue 
eyes,  the  delicately  figured  nostril,  without  guessing  that  in 
the  hour  of  bloom  this  girl  would  show  as  bonnily  as  the  fairest 
lass  of  cream  and  roses  that  ever  hailed  from  Denmark. 

We  stepped  on  to  the  deck— into  the  thunder  of  the  gale 
and  the  flying  clouds  of  spray.  I still  wore  my  oilskins,  and 
was  as  dry  in  them  as  at  the  hour  of  leaving  home.  I felt 
the  comfort,  I assure  you,  of  my  high  sea-boots,  as  I stood 
upon  that  deck,  holding  on  a minute  to  the  house  front,  with 
the  water  coming  in  a little  rage  of  froth  to  my  legs  and  wash- 
ing to  leeward  with  the  scend  of  the  bark  with  the  force  of  a 
river  overflowing  a dam. 

Our  first  glance  was  aloft.  The  foretopgallant-mast  was 
broken  off  at  the  head  of  the  topmast  and  hung  with  its  two 
yards  supportedby  its  gear,  but  giving  a strange,  wrecked  look 
to  the  whole  of  the  fabric  up  there  as  it  swung  to  the  head- 
long movem'ents  of  the  hull,  making  the  spars,  down  to  the 
solid  foot  of  the  foremast,  tremble  with  the  spearing  blows  it 
dealt.  The  jibbooms  were  also  gone,  and  this,  no  doubt,  had 
happened  through  the  carrying  away  of  the  topgallant-mast; 
otherwise  all  was  right  up  above,  assuming,  to  be  sure,  that 
nothing  was  sprung.  But  the  wild,  soaked,  desolate — the 
almost  mutilated — look,  indeed,  of  the  bark!  How  am  I to 
communicate  the  impression  produced  by  the  soaked  dark  lines 
of  sail-cloth  rolled  upon  the  yards,  the  ends  of  rope  blowing 
out  like  the  pennant  of  a man-of-war,  the  arched  and  gleaming 
gear,  the  decks  dusky  with  incessant  drenchings  and  emittiiig 
sullen  flashes  as  the  dark  flood  upon  them  rolled  from  side  to 
side!  The  running-rigging  lay  all  about,  working  like  ser- 
pents in  the  wash  of  the  water;  from  time  to  time  a sea  would 
strike  the  bow  and  burst  on  high  in  stearn-like  volumes  which 
glanced  ghastly  against  the  leaden  sky  that  overhung  ns  in 
strata  of  scowling  vapor,  dark  as  thunder  in  places,  yet  seem- 
ingly motionless.  A furious  Allan  tic  was  running!  it  came 
along  ill  hills  of  frothing  green  which  shaped  themselves  out 
of  a near  horizon  thick  w ith  niorms  o?  spume.  But  there  was 
the  regularity  of  the  unfathorned  ocean  in  the  run  of  the 
surge,  mountainous  as  it  was:  and  the’  bark,  with  her  lashed 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAM. 


6G 

helm,  not  a rag  showing  save  a tatter  or  two  of  the  foresail 
whose  head  we  had  exposed  on  the  previous  night,  soared  and 
sunk,  with  her  port  bow  to  the  sea,  with  the  regularity  of  the 
tick  of  a clock. 

There  was  nothing  in  sight.  1 looked  eagerly  round  the  sea, 
bat  it  was  all  thickness  and  foam  and  headlong  motion.  We 
went  aft  to  the  compass  to  observe  if  there  had  happened  any 
shift  in  the  wind,  and  what  the  trend  of  the  bark  was,  and  also 
to  note  the  condition  of  the  wheel,  which  could  only  have  been 
told  in  the  darkness  by  groping.  The  helm  was  perfectly  sound, 
the  lashings  held  bravrely.  I could  observe  now  that  the  wheel 
was  a small  one,  formed  of  brass,  also  that  it  worked  the  rud- 
der by  means  of  a screw,  and  it  was  this  purchase  or  leverage, 
1 suppose,  that ) : 1 made  me  find  the  bark  easy  to  steer  while 
she  wa3  scir'  The  gale  was  blowing  fair  out  of  the 

north-east  * d the  vessel’s  trend,  therefore,  was  on  a dead 
south-west  course,  with  the  help  of  a mountainous  sea  besides, 
to  drive  her  away  from  the  land,  beam  on.  I cried  to  Helga 
that  1 thought  our  drift  would  certainly  not  be  less  than  four, 
and  perhaps  five  miles  in  the  hour.  She  watched  the  sea  for 
a little,  and  then  nodded  to  me;  but  it  was  scarcely  likely 
that  she  could  conjecture  the  rate  of  progress  amid  so  furious 
a commotion  of  waters,  with  the  great  seas  boiling  to  the  bul- 
wark rail,  and  rushing  away  to  leeward  in  huge  round  backs 
of  freckled  green. 

She  was  evidently  too  weary  to  talk,  rendered  too  languid  by 
the  bitter  cares  and  sleepless  hours  of  the  long  night  to  exert 
her  voice  so  as  to  render  herself  audible  in  that  thunder  of 
wind  which  came  flashing  over  the  side  in  guns  and  bursts  of 
hurricane  power;  and  to  the  few  sentences  I uttered,  or  rather 
shouted,  she  responded  by  nods  and  shakes  of  the  head  as  it 
might  be.  There  was  a flag-locker  under  the  gratings  abaft 
the  wheel,  and  she  opened  the  box,  took  out  a small  Danish 
ensign,  bent  in  on  to  the  peak-signal  halyard,  and  between  us 
we  ran  it  half-mast  high,  and  there  it  stood,  hard  and  firm  as 
a painted  board,  a white  cross  on  red  ground,  and  the  red  of 
it  made  it  resemble  a tongue  of  fire  against  the  soot  of  the 
sky.  This  done,  we  returned  to  the  main-deck,  and  Helga 
sounded  the  pump.  She  went  to  work  with  all  the  expertness 
of  a seasoned  salt,  carefully  dried  the  rod  and  chalked  it,  and 
then  waited  until  the  roll  of  the  bark  brought  her  to  a level 
keel  before  dropping  it.  I watched  her  with  astonishment  and 
admiration.  It  would  until  now  have  seemed  impossible  to 
me  that  any  mortal  woman  should  have  had  in  her  the  mak- 
ings of  so  nimble  and  practiced  a sailor  as  1 found  her  to  be. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAET. 


61 


with  nothing,  either,  of  the  tenderness  of  girlhood  lost  in  her, 
in  speech,  in  countenance,  in  looks,  spite  of  her  boy^s  clothes. 
She  examined  the  rod,  and  eyed  me  with  a grave  countenance. 

“ Does  the  water  gain?^^  said  I. 

“ There  are  two  more  inches  of  it,^^  she  answered,  “ than 
the  depth  I found  in  the  hold  last  night  when  1 first  sounded. 
We  ought  to  free  her  somewhat. 

“ I am  willing/^  1 exclaimed,  but  are  you  equal  to  such 
labor?  A couple  of  hours  should  not  make  a very  grave  differ- 
ence.^^ 

“ No,  nol’^  she  interrupted,  with  a vehemence  that  put  her 
air  of  weariness  to  flight.  A couple  of  hours  would  be  too 
long  to  wait.^^  Saying  which  she  grasped  the  brake  and  we 
went  to  work  as  before. 

No  one  who  has  not  had  to  labor  in  this  way  can  conceive 
the  fatigue  of  it.  There  is  no  sort  of  shipboard  work  that 
more  quickly  exhausts.  It  grieved  me  to  the  soul  that  my 
associate  in  this  toil  should  be  a girl,  with  the  natural  weakness 
of  her  sex  accentuated  yet  by  what  she  had  suffered  and  was 
still  suffering;  but  her  spirited  gaze  forbade  remonstrance. 
She  seemed  scarcely  able  to  stand  when  utter  weariness  forced 
her  at  last  to  let  go  of  the  brake.  Nevertheless,  she  compelled 
her  feeble  hands  again  to  drop  the  rod  down  the  well.  We 
reduced  the  water  to  the  height  at  which  we  had  left  it  before, 
and,  with  a faint  smile  of  congratulation,  she  made  a movement 
toward  the  deck-house;  but  her  gait  was  so  staggering,  there 
was  such  a character  of  blindness,  too,  in  her  posture  as  she 
started  to  walk,  that  1 grasped  her  arm  and,  indeed,  half  car- 
ried her  into  the  house. 

She  sat  and  rested  herself  for  a few  minutes,  but  appeared 
unable  to  speak.  1 watched  her  anxiously,  with  something 
of  indignation  that  her  father,  who  professed  to  love  her  so 
dearly,  should  not  come  between  her  and  her  devotion,  and 
insist  upon  her  resting.  Presently  she  rose  and  walked  to  his 
cabin,  telling  me  with  her  looks  to  follow  her. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CAPTAIN  NIELSEN. 

Captain  Nielsen  was  veritably  corpse-like  in  aspect  viewed 
by  the  cold  gray  iron  light  sifting  through  the  little  windows 
out  of  the  spray-shrouded  air.  The  unnatural  brightness  of  his 
eyes  painfully  defined  the  attenuation  of  his  face,  and  tli^ 
sickly,  parchment-like  complexion  of  his  skin.  He  extended 


6* 


MY  DANISH  SWKETHEART. 


his  hand,  bufc  could  hardly  find  time  to  deliver  a greeting,  so 
violent  was  his  hurry  to  receive  his  daughter’s  report.  He 
shook  his  head  when  he  heard  that  his  topgallant-mast  and  jib- 
booms  were  wrecked,  and  passionately  exclaimed  in  Danish,  on 
his  daughter  telling  him  of  the  increase  of  water  in  the  hold: 

“ She  must  be  taking  it  in  from  below.”  He  then  cried,  in 
English:  “She  has  strained  herself.  Should  this  continue, 
what  is  to  be  done?  She  will  need  to  be  constantly  pumped — 
and  ah,  my  God!  you  are  but  two.” 

“ Yes,  captain,”  cried  I,  incensed  that  he  should  appear  to 
have  no  thoughts  but  for  the  ship;  “ but  if  you  do  not  insist 
upon  your  daughter  taking  some  rest  there  will  be  hut  one,  long 
before  this  gale  has  blown  itself  out.” 

“ Oh,  my  dear,  it  is  so!”  he  exclaimed,  looking  at  her  on  a 
sadden  with  impassioned  concern.  “ Mr.  Tregarthen  is  right. 
You  will  sink  under  your  efforts.  Your  dear  heart  will  break. 
Eest  now—- rest,  my  beloved  child!  1 command  you  to  rest! 
You  must  go  below;  you  must  lie  in  your  own  cabin.  This 
good  gentleman  is  about — he  will  sit  with  me  and  go  forth  and 
report.  The  ‘ Anine  ’ tends  herself,  and  there  is  nothing  in 
human  skill  to  help  her  outside  what  she  can  herself  do.” 

“ But  we  m^usb  not  starve,  father,”  she  answered;  “ let  us 
first  breakfast,  as  best  we  can,  and  then  I will  go  below,” 

She  left  the  cabin  and  promptly  returned,  bringing  with  her 
the  remains  of  the  cold  meat  we  had  supped  off,  some  biscuit, 
and  a bottle  of  red  wine.  Her  father  drank  a little  of  the 
wine,  and  eat  a morsel  of  biscuit;  indeed,  food  seemed  to 
excite  a loathing  in  him.  I saw  that  Helga  eyed  him  pite- 
ously, but  she  did  not  press  him  to  eat:  it  might  be  that  she 
had  experience  of  his  stubbornness.  She  said,  in  a soft  aside, 
to  me:  “His  appetite  is  leaving  him,  and  how  can  I tempt 
him  without  the  means  of  cooking?  Does  not  he  look  very  ill 
this  morning?” 

“ It  is  worry,  added  to  rheumatic  pains,”  said  1.  “ We  must 
get  him  ashore  as  soon  as  possible,  where  he  can  be  nursed 
in  comfort.” 

But  though  these  words  flowed  readily,  out  of  my  sympathy 
with  the  poor,  brave,  suffering  girl,  they  were  assuredly  not 
in  correspondence  with  my  secret  feelings.  It  was  not  or)ly  1 
was  certain  that  Captain  Nielson  lay  in  his  cot  a dying  man; 
the  roaring  of  the  wind,  the  beating  of  the  sea  against  the 
bark,  the  wild  extravagant  leupings  and  divings,  the  percep- 
tion that  water  was  draining  into  the  hold,  and  that  there  were 
but  two  of  us — and  one  of  those  two  a girl — to  work  the 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  63 

pumps,  made  a mockery  to  my  heart  of  my  reference  to  the 
captain  getting  ashore  and  being  nursed  there. 

We  sat  in  that  slanting  and  leaping  interior  with  plates  on 
our  knees.  The  girl  feigned  to  eat;  her  head  drooped  with 
weariness,  yet  1 noticed  that  she  would  force  a cheerful  note 
into  the  replies  she  made  to  her  father’s  ceaseless  feverish  ques- 
tions. When  we  had  ended  our  meal,  she  left  us  to  go  below 
to  her  cabin;  but  before  leaving  she  asked  me,  with  eyes  full 
of  tender  pleadings,  to  keep  her  father’s  heart  up,  to  make  the 
best  of  such  reports  as  1 might  have  to  give  to  him  after  going 
out  to  take  a look  round;  and  she  told  me  he  would  need  his 

Ehysic  at  such  and  such  a time,  and  so  lingered,  dwelling  upon 
im  and  glancing  at  him;  and  then  she  went  out  in  a hurry 
with  one  hand  upon  her  breast,  yet  not  so  swiftly  but  that  I 
could  see  her  eyes  were  swimming, 

“ There  is  a barometer  in  the  cabin,”  said  Captain  Nielsen: 
“ will  you  tell  me  how  the  mercury  stands?” 

The  glass  was  fixed  to  the  bulkhead  outside.  1 returned 
and  gave  him  the  reading. 

“ ’Tis  a little  rise!”  he  cried,  with  his  unnaturally  bright 
eyes  eagerly  fastened  upon  me. 

1 would  not  tell  him  that  it  was  not  so— that  the  mercury, 
indeed,  stood  at  the  level  1 had  observed  on  the  preceding  day 
in  my  glass  in  the  life-boat  house. 

Fierce  weather  of  this  sort,”  said  1,  soon  exhausts 
itself.” 

He  continued  to  stare  at  me,  but  now  with  an  air  of  musing 
that  somewhat  softened  the  painful  brilliant  intentness  of  his 
regard. 

“I  pray  God,”  said  he,  ‘‘that  this  weather  may  speedily 
enable  us  to  obtain  help,  for  I fear  that  if  1 am  not  treated  I 
shall  get  very  low,  perhaps  die.  I am  ill — yet  what  is  my 
malady?  This  rheumatism  is  a sudden  seizure.  I could  walk 
when  at  Ouxhaven.” 

In  as  cheerful  a voice  as  I could  assume,  1 begged  him  to  con- 
sider that  his  mind  might  have  much  to  do  with  those  bodily 
sensations  which  made  him  feel  ill. 

“ It  may  be  so,  it  may  be  so,”  he  exclaimed,  with  a sad 
smile  of  faltering  hope,  “ I wish  to  live.  I am  not  an  old 
man.  It  will  be  hard  if  my  time  is  to  come  soon.  It  is 
Helga — it  is  Ilelga,”  he  muttered,  pressing  his  brow  with  his 
thin  hand.  I v/as  about  to  speak.  “ How  wearisome,”  he 
broke  out,  “ is  this  ceaseless  tossing!  I ran  away  to  sea;  it  was 
my  own  doing.  I had  my  childish  dreams — strange  and  beauti- 
ful fancies  of  foreign  countries — and  I ran  away;”  he  went  on 


04 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


in  a rambling  manner  like  one  thinking  aloud.  “ And  yet  I 
love  the  old  ocean,  though  it  is  serving  me  cruelly  now.  It 
has  fed  me — it  has  held  me  to  its  breast — and  my  nourishment 
and  life  has  come  from  it.^^  He  started,  and,  bringing  his 
eyes  away  from  the  upper  deck  on  which  they  had  been  fixed 
while  he  spoke,  he  cried:  “ Sir,  you  are  a stranger  to  me,  but 
you  are  an  Englishman  of  heroic  heart,  and  you  will  forgive 
me.  Should  I die,  and  should  God  be  pleased  to  spare  you  and 
my  child,  will  you  protect  her  until  she  has  safely  returned  to 
her  friends  at  Kolding?  She  will  be  alone  in  any  part  of  the 
world  until  she  is  there,  and  if  I am  assured  that  she  will  have 
the  generous  compassion  of  your  heart  with  her,  a guardian  to 
take  my  place  until  she  reaches  Kolding,  it  will  make  me 
easy  in  my  ending,  let  the  stroke  come  when  it  will. 

“ 1 came  to  this  ship  to  save  your  lives,  I answered.  I 
hope  to  be  an  instrument  yet  of  helping  to  save  them.  Trust 
me  to  do  your  bidding,  if  it  were  only  for  my  admiration  of 
your  daughter’s  heroic  qualities.  But  do  not  speak  of  dying, 
Captain  Nielsen—” 

He  interrupted  me.  “There  is  my  dear  friend,  Pastor 
Blicker  of  Kolding,  and  there  is  Pastor  Jansen  of  Skandrup. 
They  are  good  and  gentle  Christian  men,  who  will  receive  Hel- 
ga,  and  stand  by  her  and  soothe  her  and  counsel  her  as  to  my 
little  property— ah,  my  little  property!”  he  cried.  “If  this 
vessel  founders,  what  have  I?” 

“ Pray,”  said  I,  with  the  idea  of  quietly  coaxing  his  mind 
into  a more  cheerful  mood,  “ what  is  so  seriously  wrong  with 
you,  captain,  that  you  should  lie  there  gloomily  foreboding 
your  death?  Such  rheumatism  as  yours  is  not  very  quick  to 
kill.  ” 

“ I was  long  dangerously  ill  of  a fever  in  the  West  Indies,” 
he  answered,  “ and  it  left  a vital  organ  weak.  The  mischief 
|is  here,  I fear,”  said  he,  touching  his  right  side  above  his  hip. 

‘ I felt  very  ill  at  Cuxhaven;  but  this  voyage  was  to  be  made; 
[f  am  too  poor  a man  to  suffer  my  health  to  forfeit  the  money 
that  was  to  be  got  bj  it.  Hark!  what  was  that?” 

He  leaned  his  head  over  the  cot,  straining  his  hearing  with 
a nervous  fiuttering  of  his  emaciated  fingers.  It  was  misera- 
ble to  see  how  white  the  skin  of  his  sunken  cheeks  showed 
against  the  whiteness  of  the  canvas  of  his  cot. 

“ 1 heard  nothing,”  1 answered. 

“It  was  li  iinise  of  a blow,”  he  exclaimed.  “ Pray  go 
and  see  if  ;i’  ^iing  is  wrong,”  ho  added,  speaking  out  of  his 
habit  of  giving  orders,  and  with  a peremptoriness  that  forced 
a smile  from  me  us  1 went  to  the  door. 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


65 


I made  my  way  through  the  house  on  to  the  deck,  and 
looked  about  me,  but  it  was  the  same  scene  to  stare  at  and 
hearken  to  that  1 had  viewed  before:  the  same  thunder  and 
shriek  of  wind,  the  same  clouding  of  the  forward  part  of  the 
bark  in  foam,  the  same  miserable  dismal  picture  of  water 
flashing  from  bulwark  to  bulwark,  of  high  green  frothing  seas 
towering  past  the  line  of  the  rail  as  the  vessel  swung  in  a 
smother  of  seething  yeast  into  the  trough. 

I caught  sight  of  a long  hen-coop  abaft  the  structure  in 
which  the  sailors  had  lived,  with  the  red  gleam  of  a cock’s  comb 
betwixt  a couple  of  the  bars,  and  guessing  that  the  wretched 
inmates  must  by  this  time  be  in  sore  need  of  food  and  water, 
I very  cautiously  made  my  way  to  the  coop,  holding  on  by 
something  at  every  step.  The  coop  was,  indeed,  full  of  poul- 
try, but  all  lay  drowned. 

I returned  to  the  deck-house  and  mounted  on  top  of  it, 
where  I should  be  able  to  obtain  a good  view  of  as  much  of 
the  ocean  as  was  exposed,  and  where  also  I should  be  out  of 
the  wet  which,  on  the  main-deck,  rolled  with  weight  enough 
at  times  to  sweep  a man  off  his  legs.  The  roof  of  the  house, 
if  I may  so  term  it,  was  above  the  rail,  and  the  whole  fury  of 
the  gale  swept  across  it.  I never  could  have  guessed  at  the 
hurricane  force  of  the  wind  while  standing  on  the  deck  be- 
neath. It  was  impossible  to  face  it;  if  I glanced  but  one  in- 
stant to  windward  my  eyes  seemed  to  be  blown  into  my  head. 

I had  not  gained  that  elevation  above  a minute  when  I heard 
a sharp  rattling  aloft,  and,  looking  upward,  I perceived  that 
the  main-royal  had  blown  loose.  For  the  space  of  a breath 
or  two  it  made  the  rattling  noise  that  had  called  my  attention 
to  it,  then  the  whole  bladder-like  body  of  it  was  swept  in  a 
flash  away  from  the  yard,  and  nothing  remained  but  a whip  or 
two  streaming  straight  out  like  white  hair  from  the  spar.  A 
moment  later  the  maintopgallant-sail,  that  had  been,  no  doubt, 
hastily  and  badly  furled,  was  blown  out  of  the  gaskets.  I 
thought  to  see  it  go  as  the  royal  had,  but  while  I watched, 
waiting  for  the  flight  of  the  rags  of  it  down  into  the  leeward 
gloom  of  the  sky,  the  mast  snapped  off  at  the  cap  at  the  in- 
stant of  the  sail  bursting  and  disappearing  like  a gush  of  mist, 
and  down  fell  the  whole  mass  of  hamper  to  a little  below  the 
stay,  under  which  it  madly  swung,  held  by  the  backstays. 

This  disaster,  comparatively  trifling  as  it  was,  gave  the  whole 
fabric  a most  melancholy,  wrecked  look.  It  affected  me  in  a 
manner  I should  not  have  thought  possible  in  one  who  knew 
so  much  about  the  sea  and  shipwreck  as  1.  It  oppressed  me 
is  an  omen  approaching  dissolution.  ‘‘  What  in  (lod’s 


66 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


can  save  us?^^  I remember  thinking,  as  1 brought  my  eyes 
away  from  the  two  broken  masts,  swinging  and  spearing  high 
up  under  the  smoke-colored,  compacted,  apparently  stirless 
heaps  of  vapor  stretching  from  sea-line  to  sea-line.  “What 
put  together  by  mortal  hands  can  go  on  resisting  this  ceaseless, 
tremendous  beating?^^  and  as  I thus  thought,  the  vessel,  with 
a wild  sweep  of  her  bow,  smote  a giant  surge  rushing  laterally 
at  her,  and  a whole  green  sea  broke  roaring  over  the  forecastle, 
making  every  timber  in  her  tremble  with  a volcanic  thrill, 
and  entirely  submerging  the  fore  part  in  white  waters,  out  of 
which  she  soared  with  a scoro  of  cataracts  flying  in  smoke 
from  her  sides. 

1 looked  for  the  flag  that  Helga  and  I had  half-masted  a 
little  while  before;  it  had  as  utterly  disappeared  from  betwixt 
its  toggles  as  though  the  bunting  had  been  ripped,  up  and 
down  by  a knife.  As  I was  in  the  act  of  dragging  myself 
along  to  the  ladder  to  go  below,  1 spied  a sort  of  smudge 
oozing  out  of  the  iron-hued  thickness  past  the  head  of  a great 
sea  whose  arching  peak  was  like  a snow-clad  hill.  I crouched 
down  to  steady  myself,  and  presently  what  I had  at  first  thought 
to  be  some  dark  shadow  of  cloud  upon  the  near  horizon  grew 
into  the  proportions  of  a large  ship,  running  dead  before  the 
gale  under  a narrow  band  of  main-topsail. 

She  was  heading  to  j)ass  under  our  stern,  and  rapidly  drew 
out,  and  in  a few  minutes  1 had  her  clear — clean  and  bright 
as  a new  painting  against  the  background  of  shadow,  along 
whose  dingy,  misty  base  the  ocean  line  was  washing  in  flicker- 
ing green  heights.  She  was  a large  steam  frigate,  clearly  a 
foreigner,  for  I do  not  know  that  our  country  had  a ship  of 
the  kind  afloat  at  the  time.  She  had  a white  band,  broken 
by  ports,  and  the  black  and  gleaming  defenses  of  her  bulwarks 
were  crowned  with  stowed  hammocks.  Her  topgallant-masts 
were  housed,  and  the  large  cross-trees  and  huge  black  tops  and 
wide  spread  of  shrouds  gave  her  a wonderfully  heavy,  massive, 
ship-of-war  look  aloft.  The  band  of  close-reefed  main-topsail 
had  the  glare  of  foam  as  it  swung  majestically  from  one 
sea-line  to  the  other,  slowly  swaying  across  the  dark  and 
stooping  heaven  with  a noble  and  solemn  rhythm  of  move- 
ment. I could  never  have  imagined  a sight  to  more  wholly 
fascinate  my  gaze.  Always  crouching  low,  1 watched  her 
under  the  shelter  of  my  hands  locked  upon  my  brow.  1 beheld 
nothing  living  aboard  of  her.  She  came  along  as  though  in- 
formed by  some  spirit  and  government  of  her  own.  As  her 
great  stem  sunk  to  the  figure-head  there  arose  a magnificent 
Doiling,  a mountainous  cloud  of  froth  on  either  bow  of  her. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


67 


and  the  roar  of  those  riven  sea*  seemed  to  add  a deeper  tone 
of  thunder  to  the  gale.  All  was  taut  aboard — every  rope  like  a 
ruled  line — different^  indeed,  from  our  torn  and  wrecked  and 
trailing  appearance  on  high!  She  swept  past  within  a quarter 
of  a mile  of  us,  and  what  pen  could  convey  the  incredible  power 
suggested  by  that  great  fabric  as  her  stern  lifted  to  the  curl 
of  the  enormous  Atlantic  surge,  and  the  whole  ship  rushed 
forward  on  the  hurling  froth  of  the  sea  with  an  electric  velocity 
that  brought  the  very  heart  into  one^s  throat. 

She  was  a mere  smudge  again — this  time  to  leeward — in  a 
fev/  minutes.  1 could  only  stare  at  her.  Our  flag  had  blown 
away,  I was  without  power  to  signal,  and,  even  if  I had  been 
able  to  communicate  our  condition  of  distress,  what  help  could 
she  have  offered?  What  could  she  have  done  for  us  in  such  a 
sea  as  was  now  running?  Yet  the  mere  sight  of  her  had 
heartened  me.  She  made  me  feel  that  help  could  never  be 
wanting  in  an  ocean  so  plowed  by  keels  as  the  Atlantic. 

I crawled  down  on  to  the  quarter-deck,  and  returned  to  the 
captain/s  cabin.  The  poor  man  at  once  fell  with  feverish 
eagerness  to  questioning  me.  I told  him  honestly  that  the  main- 
topgallant-mast  had  been  carried  away  while  I was  on  deck, 
but  that  there  was  nothing  else  wrong  that  I could  distinguish; 
that  the  bark  was  still  making  a noble  fight,  though  there 
were  times  when  the  seas  broke  very  fiercely  and  dangerously 
over  the  forecastle. 

He  wagged  his  head  with  a gesture  of  distress,  crying:  “ So 
it  is!  so  it  is!  One  spar  after  another,  and  thus  may  we  go  to 
pieces 

I told  him  of  the  great  steam  frigate  that  had  passed.  But  to 
this  piece  of  news  he  listened  with  a vacant  look,  and  apparently 
could  think  of  nothing  but  his  spars.  He  asked  in  a childish, 
fretful  way  how  long  Helga  had  been  below,  and  I answered 
him  stoutly  not  nearly  long  enough  for  sleep. 

“ Ay,^^  cried  he,  “ but  the  bark  needs  to  be  pumped,  sir.^^ 

“ Your  daughter  will  work  the  better  for  rest,^^  said  I,  and 
then  looking  at  my  watch  1 found  it  was  time  to  give  him  his 
physic. 

He  exclaimed,  looking  at  the  wine-glass:  ‘‘  There  is  no  virtue 
in  this  stuff.  The  sufferer  can  make  but  one  use  of  it;^^  and, 
still  preserving  a manner  of  curious  childishness,  he  emptied 
the  contents  of  the  glass  over  the  edge  of  his  cot  on  to  the 
deck,  and,  as  he  swung,  lay  watching  the  mess  of  it  on  the 
floor  with  a smile.  I guessed  that  expostulation  would  be 
fruitless,  and,  indeed,  having  but  very  little  faith  myself  in  any 
sort  of  physic,  I secretly  appiauJed  his  behavior. 


68 


MY  DANISH  8WKETHEART. 


1 sat  down  upon  the  locker,  and,  leaning  rny  back  against 
the  bulkhead,  endeavored,  by  conversation,  to  bring  a cheerful 
look  to  his  countenance;  but  his  mood  of  depression  was  not 
to  be  conquered.  At  times  he  would  ramble  a little,  quote 
passages  from  Danish  plays  in  his  native  tongue,  then  pause 
with  his  head  on  one  side  as  though  waiting  for  me  to  applaud 
what  he  forgot  I did  not  understand. 

“ How  fine  is  this  from  ‘ Palnatoke!^  he  would  cry,  “ or 
hark  to  this  from  that  noble  performance  ‘ Hacon  Yarl!^  Ah, 
it  is  England  alone  can  match  Oehlenschlager. 

I could  only  watch  him  mutely.  Then  he  would  break  away 
to  bewail  his  spars  again,  and  to  cry  out  that  Helga  would  be 
left  penniless,  would  be  a poor  beggar  girl,  if  his  ship  found- 
ered. 

“ But  is  not  the  ‘ Anine  ^ insured?^^  said  I. 

‘‘  Yes,^^  he  answered,  “ but  not  by  me.  I was  obliged  to 
borrow  money  upon  her,  and  she  is  insured  by  the  man  who 
lent  me  the  money. 

“ But  you  have  an  interest  in  the  cargo.  Captain  Nielsen?^^ 

“ Ay,^^  cried  he,  “ and  that  I insured;  but  what  will  it  be 
worth  to  my  poor  little  Helga?^^ — and  he  hid  his  face  in  his 
hands  and  rocked  himself. 

However,  he  presently  grew  somewhat  composed,  and  cer- 
tainly more  rational,  and,  after  awhile,  I found  myself  talking 
about  Tintrenale,  my  home  and  associations,  my  life-boat  ex- 
cursions, and  the  like;  and  then  we  conversed  upon  the  course 
that  was  to  be  adopted  should  the  weather  moderate  and  find 
us  still  afloat.  We  should  be  able  to  do  nothing,  he  said, 
without  assistance  from  a passing  ship,  in  the  sense  of  obtain- 
ing a few  sailors  to  work  the  bark;  or  a steamer  might  coma 
along  that  would  be  willing  to  give  us  a tow. 

“ The  Landes  End  can  not  be  far  ofl,^^  said  he. 

No,^"  said  I,  “ not  if  this  gale  means  to  drop  to-day.  But 
it  will  be  far  enough  off  if  it  is  to  go  on  blowing. 

He  inquired  what  I made  the  drift  to  be,  and  then  calculat- 
ed that  the  English  coast  would  now  be  bearing  about  east- 
north-east,  sixty  miles  distant.  “ Let  the  wind  chop  round, 
cried  he,  with  a gleam  in  his  sunken  eye,  “ and  you  and  Helga 
would  have  the  ‘ Anine  ^ in  the  channel  before  midnight. 

We  continued  to  talk  in  this  strain,  and  he  seemed  to  forget 
the  wretchedness  of  our  situation;  then  suddenly  he  called 
out  to  know  the  time,  abruptly  breaking  away  from  what  he 
was  saying. 

“ Hard  upon  eleven  o^clock.^^  said  1. 

“ This  will  not  do,’^  he  cried.  “ The  bark,  as  we  talk,  is 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


69 


filling  under  our  feet.  The  well  should  be  sounded.  Helga 
must  be  called.  I beseech  you  to  call  Ilelga/^  he  repeated, 
nervously,  smiting  the  side  of  his  cot  with  his  clinched  hand. 

Ah,  God!^^  he  added,  “ that  I should  bo  without  the  powei 
to  move!^^ 

“ I will  sound  the  well,^^  said  1.  “ Should  I find  an  increase 
I will  arouse  your  daughter.'’^ 

“ Go,  I beg  of  you!’^  he  cried,  in  high  notes.  “ The  bark 
seems  sodden  to  me.  She  does  not  lift  and  fall  as  she  did.^* 

I guessed  this  to  be  imagination,  but  the  mere  fancy  of  such 
a thing  being  true  frightened  me  also,  and  1 hastily  went  out. 
1 dried  the  rod  and  chalked  it  as  Helga  had,  and,  watching  my 
chance,  dropped  it,  and  found  five  inches  of  water  above  the 
level  our  last  spell  at  the  pump  had  left  in  the  hold.  1 was 
greatly  startled,  and  to  make  sure  that  my  first  cast  was  right, 
I sounded  a second  time,  and  sure  enough  the  rod  showed  five 
inches,  as  before.  I hastened  with  the  news  to  the  captain. 

“ I knew  it!  1 feared  it!^^  he  cried,  his  voice  shrill  with  a 
very  ecstasy  of  hurry,  anxiety,  and  sense  of  helplessness  that 
worked  in  him.  “ Call  Helga — lose  not  an  instant — run,  I 
beg  you  will  run. 

“ But  run  where?^^  cried  1.  Where  does  the  girl  sleep?^^ 

“ Go  down  the  hatchway  in  the  deck-house/'’  he  shouted,  in 
shrill  accents,  as  though  bent  upon  putting  into  this  moment 
the  whole  of  his  remaining  slender  stock  of  vitality.  “ There 
are  four  cabins  under  this  deck.  Hers  is  the  aftermost  one  on 
the  starboard  side.  i)onT  delay!  If  she  does  not  instantly 
answer,  enter  and  arouse  her;’^  and  as  I sped  from  the  cabin 
I heard  him  crying  that  he  knew  by  the  motions  of  the  ship 
she  was  filling  rapidly,  and  that  she  would  go  down  on  a sud- 
den like  lead. 

It  was  a black  square  trap  of  hatchway  into  which  I looked 
a moment  before  putting  my  legs  over.  There  was  a short 
flight  of  almost  perpendicular  steps  conducting  to  the  lower 
deck.  On  my  descending  I found  the  place  so  dark  that  I was 
forced  to  halt  till  my  eyes  should  grow  used  to  the  obscurity. 
There  was  a disagreeable  smell  of  cargo  down  here,  and  such 
a heart-shaking  uproar  of  straining  timbers,  or  creaking  bulk- 
heads, of  the  thumps  of  seas  and  the  muffled,  yearning  roar  of 
the  giant  waters  sweeping  under  the  vessel,  that  for  a little 
wliile  I stood  as  one  utterly  bewildered. 

Soon,  however,  I managed  to  distinguish  outlines,  and  wdth 
outstretched  hands  and  wary  legs  made  my  way  to  the  cabin 
that  Captain  Eielsen  had  indicated,  and  beat  upon  the  door. 
There  was  no  respo^ise.  I beat  again,  listening,  scarcely  think- 


70 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


ing,  perhaps,  that  the  girl  would  require  a voice  as  keen  as  a 
boatswain^s  pii3e  to  thread  the  soul-oorifouiidiiig  and  brain- 
muddling  clamor  in  this  after-deck  of  the  storm-beaten  bark. 
“He  bade  me  enter,’’  thought  I,  “and  enter  1 must,  if  the 
girl  is  to  be  aroused;”  and  I turned  the  handle  of  the  door 
and  walked  in. 

Helga  lay,  attired  as  she  had  left  the  deck,  in  an  upper 
bunk,  through  the  port-hole  of  which  the  daylight,  bright 
with  the  foam,  came  and  went  upon  her  face  as  the  vessel  at 
one  moment  buried  the  thick  glass  of  the  scuttle  in  the 
green  blindness  of  the  sea  and  then  lifted  it,  weeping  and 
gleaming  into  the  air.  Her  head  was  pillowed  on  her  arm; 
her  hair  in  the  weak  light  showed  as  though  touched  by  a dull 
beam  of  the  sun.  Her  eyes  were  sealed;  their  long  lashes  put 
a delicate  shading  under  them;  her  white  face  wore  a sweet 
expression  of  happy  serenity,  and  I could  believe  that  some 
glad  vision  was  present  to  her.  Her  lips  were  parted  in  the 
expression  of  a smile. 

There  was  a feeling  in  me  as  of  profanity  in  this  intrusion, 
and  of  wrong-doing  in  the  obligation  forced  upon  me  of  waking 
her  from  a peaceful,  pleasant,  all-important  repose  to  face  the 
bitter  hardships  and  necessities  of  that  time  of  tempest.  But 
for  my  single  arms  the  pump  was  too  much,  and  she  must  be 
aroused.  I lightly  put  my  hand  upon  hers,  and  her  smile  was 
instantly  more  defined,  as  though  my  action  were  coincident 
with  some  phase  of  her  dream.  I pressed  her  hand;  she 
sighed  deeply,  looked  at  me,  and  instantly  sat  up  with  a little 
frown  of  confusion. 

“ Your  father  begged  me  to  enter  and  arouse  you,”  said  1. 
“ I was  unable  to  make  you  hear  by  knocking.  I have  sound- 
ed the  well,  and  there  is  an  increase  of  five  inches!” 

“ Ah!”  she  exclaimed,  and  sprung  lightly  out  of  her  bunk. 

In  silence  and  with  amazing  dispatch,  seeing  that  a few 
seconds  before  she  was  in  a deep  sleep,  she  put  on  her  sea- 
helmet,  whipped  a handkerchief  round  her  neck,  and  was  lead- 
ing the  way  to  the  hatch  on  buoyant  feet. 

On  gaining  the  deck  I discovered  that  the  wrecked  appear- 
ance of  the  ship  aloft  had  been  greatly  heightened  during  my 
absence  below  by  the  fore-topsail  having  been  blown  into  rags. 
It  was  a single  sail,  and  the  few  long  strips  of  it  which  remained 
blowing  out  horizontally  from  the  yards  stilf  as  crowbars  gave 
an  indescribable  character  of  forlornness  to  the  fabric.  Helga 

fjlanced  aloft,  and  immediately  perceived  that  the  rnaintopgal- 
ant-mast  had  been  wrecked,  but  said  nothing,  and  in  a minute 
the  pair  of  us  were  hard  at  work. 


MY  DAI^ISH  8WEETHEABT. 


71 


I let  go  fche  brake  only  when  my  companion  was  too  exhaust- 
ed to  continue;  but  now,  on  sounding  the  well,  we  found  that  our 
labors  had  not  d joreased  the  water  to  the  same  extent  as  here- 
tofore. It  was  impossible,  however,  to  converse  out  of  shelter; 
moreover,  a fresh  danger  attended  exposure  on  deck,  for,  in 
addition  to  the  wild  sweepin.g  of  green  seas  forward,  to  the 
indescribably  violent  motions  of  the  bark  which  threatened  to 
break  oiir  heads  or  onr  limbs  for  us,  to  fling  us  bruised  and 
senseless  against  the  bulwarks  if  we  relaxed  for  a moment  our 
hold  of  what  was  next  us— in  addition  to  this,  I say,  there  was 
now  the  deadly  menace  of  the  topgallant-mast,  with  its  weight 
of  yards,  fiercely  swinging  and  beating  right  over  our  heads, 
and  poised  there  by  the  slender  filaments  of  its  rigging,  which 
might  part  and  let  the  whole  mass  fall  at  any  moment. 

We  entered  the  deck-house,  and  paused  for  a little  while  in 
its  comparative  silence  and  stagnation  to  exchange  a few 
words. 

‘‘  The  water  is  gaining  upon  the  ship,  Mr.  Tregarthen,^^ 
said  Ilelga. 

‘‘  I fear  so,^^  I answered. 

‘‘  If  it  should  increase  beyond  the  control  of  the  pumps, 
what  is  to  be  done?’^  she  asked.  “ We  are  without  boats. 

“ What  can  be  done?^^  cried  1.  “ We  shall  have  to  make 

some  desperate  thrust  for  life—contrive  something  out  of  the 
hencoop — spare  booms — whatever  is  to  be  found. 

“ What  chance — what  chance  have  we  in  such  a sea  as 
this?^^  she  exclaimed,  looking  up  at  me  with  eyes  large  with 
emotion,  though  I found  nothing  of  fear  in  the  shining  of 
them  or  in  the  working  of  her  pale  sweet  face. 

I had  no  answer  to  make.  Indeed,  it  put  a sort  of  feeling 
into  the  blood  like  madness  itself  even  to  talk  of  a raft  with 
the  sound  in  our  ears  of  the  sea  that  was  raging  outside. 

And  then  there  is  my  father,^^  she  continued,  ‘‘  helpless 
— unable  to  move — how  is  he  to  be  rescued?  I would  lose  my 
life  to  save  his.  But  what  is  to  be  done  if  this  gale  con- 
tinues?’^ 

“ His  experience  should  be  of  use  to  us,^^  said  L “ Let  us 
go  and  talk  with  him.^^ 

She  opened  the  door  of  the  berth,  halted,  stared  a minute, 
then  turned  to  me  with  her  forefinger  upon  her  lip.  I peered, 
and  found  the  poor  man  fast  asleep.  1 believed  at  first  that  he 
was  dead,  so  still  he  lay,  so  easy  was  his  countenance,  so  white 
too;  but,  after  watching  a moment,  I spied  his  breast  rising 
and  falling.  Helga  drew  close,  and  stood  viewing  him.  A 
strange  and  moving  sight  was  that  swinging  cot,  the  revelation 


72 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


of  the  death-like  head  within,  the  swaying  boyisli  figure  of  a 
daughter  gazing  with  eyes  of  love,  pity,  distress  at  the  sleeping, 
haggard  face  as  it  came  and  went. 

She  sat  down  beside  me.  “ I shall  lose  him  soon,^^  said 
she;  “but  what  is  killing  him?  He  was  white  and  poorly 
yesterday;  but  not  ill  as  he  is  now.^^ 

It  would  have  been  idle  to  attempt  any  sort  of  courage. 
The  truth  was  as  plain  to  her  as  to  me.  I could  find  nothing 
better  to  say  than  that  the  gale  might  cease  suddenly,  that  a 
large  steam  frigate  had  passed  us  a little  while  before,  that 
some  vessel  was  sure  to  heave  into  sight  when  the  weather  mod- 
erated, and  that  meanwhile  our  efforts  must  be  directed  to 
keeping  the  vessel  afloat.  1 could  not  again  talk  of  the  raft;  it 
was  enough  to  feel  the  sickening  tossing  of  the  ship  under  us 
to  render  the  thought  of  that  remedy  for  our  state  horrible 
and  hopeless. 

The  time  slowly  passed.  It  was  drawing  on  to  one  o’clock. 
I went  on  deck  to  examine  the  helm  and  to  judge  of  the 
weather;  then  sounded  the  well,  but  found  no  material  in- 
crease of  water.  The  bark,  however,  was  rolling  so  furiously 
that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  a correct  cast.  Before  re- 
entering the  house  I sent  a look  round  from  the  shelter  of  the 
weather  bulwark  to  observe  what  materials  were  to  be  obtained 
for  a raft  should  the  weather  suffer  us  to  launch  such  a thing 
and  the  bark  founder  spite  of  our  toil.  There  was  a number 
of  spare  booms  securely  lashed  upon  the  top  of  the  seamen’s 
deck-house  and  galley,  and  these,  with  the  hen-coop  and  hatch- 
covers,  and  the  little  casks  or  scuttle-butts  out  of  which  the  men 
drank,  would  provide  us  with  what  we  needed.  But  the  con- 
templation of  death  itself  was  not  so  dreadful  to  me  as  the 
prospect  which  this  fancy  of  a raft  opened.  I hung  crouching 
under  the  lee  of  the  tall  bulwark,  gnawing  my  lip  as  thought 
after  thought  arose  in  me,  and  digging  my  finger-nails  into 
the  palms  of  my  hands.  The  suddenness  of  it  all!  The  being 
this  time  yesterday  safe  ashore,  without  the  dimmest  imagina- 
tion of  what  was  to  come — the  anguish  of  my  poor  old  mother 
— the  perishing,  as  I did  not  doubt,  of  my  brave  comrades  of 
the  life-boat — then  this  vessel  slowly  taking  in  water,  dying 
as  it  were  by  inches,  and  as  doomed  as  though  hell’s  curse  were 
upon  her,  unless  the  gale  should  cease  and  help  come! 

1 could  not  bear  it.  I started  to  my  feet  with  a sense  of  mad- 
ness upon  me,  with  a wild  and  dreadful  desire  in  me  to  show 
mercy  to  myself  by  plunging  and  silencing  the  delirious  fancies 
of  my  brain  in  the  wide  sweep  of  seething  waters  that  rushed 
from  the  very  line  of  the  rail  of  the  bark  as  she  leaned  to  her 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


73 


beam  ends  in  the  thunderous  trough  of  that  instant.  It  was  a 
sort  of  hysteria  that  did  not  last;  yet  might  I have  found  temp- 
tation and  time  in  the  swift  passage  of  it  to  have  destroyed 
myself,  but  for  God^s  hand  upon  me,  as  I choose  to  believe,  and 
to  be  ever  thankful  for! 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  RAFT. 

How  passed  the  rest  of  this  the  first  day  of  my  wild  and 
dangerous  adventure,  of  Helga^s  and  my  first  day  of  suffering, 
peril,  and  romantic  experience,  I can  not  clearly  recall.  ' A 
few  impressions  only  survive.  I remember  returning  to  the 
deck-house  and  finding  the  captain  still  sleeping.  I remember 
conversing  with  Helga,  who  looked  me  very  earnestly  in  the 
face  when  1 entered,  and  who,  by  some  indefinable  influence  of 
voice  and  eye,  coaxed  me  into  speaking  of  my  fit  of  horror  on 
deck.  I remember  that  she  left  me  to  obtain  some  food,  which, 
it  seems,  was  kept  in  one  of  the  cabins  below,  and  that  she  re- 
turned with  a tin  of  preserved  meat,  a little  glass  jar  of  jam,  a 
tin  of  biscuits,  and  a bottle  of  red  wine  like  to  what  we  had 
before  drunk — a very  pleasant  well- flavored  claret;  that  all  the 
while  we  eat,  her  father  slept,  which  made  her  happy,  as  she 
said  he  needed  rest,  not  having  closed  his  eyes  for  three  nights 
and  days,  though  it  was  wonderful  to  me  that  he  should  have 
fallen  asleep  in  such  a mood  of  excitement  and  of  consternation 
as  I had  left  him  in;  but  as  to  his  slumbering  amid  that  uproar 
of  straining  timbers  and  flying  waters,  it  is  enough  to  say  that 
he  was  a seaman. 

I also  recollect  that  throughout  the  remainder  of  the  day  we 
worked  the  pump  at  every  two  hours  or  thereabouts;  but  the 
water  was  unmistakably  gaining  upon  the  bark,  and  to  keep 
her  free  would  have  needed  the  incessant  plying  of  the  pumps-— 
both  pumps  at  once — by  gangs  of  fellows  who  could  relieve  one 
another  and  rest  between.  Helga  told  me  that  her  father  had 
given  orders  for  a wind-mill  pump  to  be  rigged,  Scandanavian 
fashion,  but  that  there  had  been  some  delay,  and  so  the  bark 
sailed  without  it.  1 said  that  no  wind-mill  pump  would 
have  stood  up  half  an  hour  in  such  a gale  of  wind  as  was 
blowing;  but  all  the  same,  1 bitterly  lamented  that  there  was 
nothing  of  the  sort  aboard,  for  these  wind-mill  arrangement, 
keep  the  pumps  going  by  the  revolution  of  their  sails,  and  such 
a thing  must  have  proved  inexpressibly  valuable  when  the 
weather  should  moderate,  so  as  to  allow  us  to  erect  it. 

The  captain  slept  far  into  the  afternoon^  but  I could  not  oh- 


74 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


serve,  when  he  awoke,  that  he  was  the  better  for  his  long  sptll 
of  rest.  I entered  his  cabin  fresh  from  a look  round  on  deck, 
and  found  him  just  awake,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  his  daugh- 
ter, who  sat  slumbering  upon  the  locker,  with  her  back  againsi 
the  cabin  wall  and  her  pale  face  bowed  upon  her  breast,  llh 
immediately  attacked  me  with  questions,  delivered  in  notes  so 
high,  penetrating,  and  feverish  with  hurry  and  alarm  that  they 
awoke  Helga.  We  had  to  tell  him  the  truth — I mean,  tliat  the 
wate;  was  gaining,  but  slowly,  so  that  it  must  conquer  us  if  the 
gale  continued,  yet  we  might  still  hope  to  find  a chance  for  our 
lives  by  keeping  the  pump  going.  He  broke  into  many  pas- 
sionate exclamations  of  distress  and  grief,  ana  then  was  silent, 
witli  the  air  of  one  who  abandons  hope. 

“ There  are  but  two,  and  one  of  them  a girl,’^  I heard  him 
say,  lifting  his  eyes  to  the  deck  above  as  he  spoke. 

The  night  was  a dreadful  time  to  look  forward  to.  While 
there  was  daylight,  while  one  could  see,  one^s  spirits  seemed 
to  retain  a little  buoyancy;  but,  speaking  for  myself , 1 dreaded 
the  effects  upon  my  mind  of  a second  interminable  time  of 
blackness,  filled  with  the  horrors  of  the  groaning  and  howling 
gale,  of  the  dizzy  motion  of  the  tormented  fabric,  of  the 
heart-subduing  noises  of  waters  pouring  in  thunder  and  beat- 
ing against  and  over  the  struggling  vessel. 

VV^ell,  there  came  round  the  hour  of  nine  o’clock  by  my 
watch.  Long  before,  after  returning  from  a spirit-breaking 
spell  of  toil  at  the  pump,  we  had  lighted  the  deck-house  and 
binnacle  lamps,  had  eaten  our  third  meal  that  day  to  answer 
for  tea  or  supper,  and  at  Helga’s  entreaty  I had  lain  down 
upon  the  deck-house  locker  to  sleep  for  one  hour  or  so  if  I could, 
while  she  went  to  watch  by  her  father  and  to  keep  an  eye  upon 
the  ship  by  an  occasional  visit  to  the  deck. 

We  had  arranged  that  she  should  awaken  me  at  nine,  that 
we  should  then  apply  ourselves  afresh  to  the  pump,  that  she 
i-^liQuld  afterward  take  my  place  upon  the  locker  till  eleven,  1, 
m.  anwhile,  seeing  to  her  father  and  to  the  bark,  and  that  we 
should  thus  proceed  in  these  alternations  throughout  the  night. 
It  was  now  nine  o’clock.  I awoke,  and  was  looking  at  my 
watch  when  Helga  entered  from  the  deck.  She  came  up  to  me 
and  took  my  hands,  and  cried: 

“Oh!  Mr.  Trogarthen,  there  are  some  stars  in  the  sky.  I 
b(dieve  tlio  gale  is  breaking.” 

Only  those  who  have  undergone  the  like  of  such  experiences 
as  these  1 am  endeavoring  to  relate  can  conceive  of  the  rapture, 
tho  new  life  her  words  raised  in  me. 


MY  DANISH  SWl^ETHEAR'f. 

I praise  God  for  your  good  news I cried,  and  made  a 
step  to  the  barometer  to  observe  its  indications. 

The  rise  of  the  mercury  was  a quarter  of  an  inch,  and  this 
had  happened  since  a little  after  seven.  Yet,  being  something 
of  a student  of  the  barometer  in  my  little  way,  I coaid  have 
heartily  wished  the  rise  much  more  gradual.  It  might  betoken 
nothing  more  than  a drier  quality  of  gale,  with  nothing  of  the 
old  fierceness  wanting.  But  then,  to  be  sure,  it  might  promise 
a shift,  so  that  we  stood  a chance  of  being  blown  homeward, 
which  would  signify  an  opportunity  of  preservation  that  must 
needs  grow  greater  as  we  approached  the  English  Channel. 

1 went  with  Helga  on  deck,  and  instantly  saw  the  stars  shin- 
ing to  windward  betwixt  the  edges  of  clouds  which  were  flying 
across  our  mastheads  with  the  velocity  of  smoke.  The  heaven 
of  vapor  that  had  hung  black  and  brooding  over  the  ocean  for 
two  days  was  broken  up;  where  the  sky  showed  it  was  pure, 
and  the  stars  shone  in  it  with  a frosty  brilliance.  The  atmosphere 
had  wonderfully  cleared;  the  froth  glanced  keenly  upon  the 
hurling  shadows  of  the  seas,  and  I believed  1 could  follow  the 
clamorous  mountainous  breast  of  the  ocean  to  the  very  throb 
of  the  horizon,  over  which  the  clouds  were  pouring  in  loose 
masses,  scattering  scud-like  as  they  soared,  but  all  so  plentiful 
that  the  heavens  were  thick  with  the  flying  wings. 

But  there  was  no  sobering  of  the  wind.  It  blew  with  its  old 
dreadful  violence,  and  the  half-smothered  bark  climbed  and 
plunged  and  rolled  amid  clouds  of  spray  in  a manner  to  make 
the  eyes  reel  after  a minute  of  watching  her.  Yet  the  mere 
sight  of  the  stars  served  as  a sup  of  cordial  to  us.  We  strove 
at  the  pump,  and  then  Helga  lay  down;  and  in  this  manner 
the  hours  passed  till  about  four  o’clock  in  the  morning,  when 
there  happened  a sensible  decrease  in  the  wind.  At  dawn  it 
was  still  blowing  hard,  but  long  before  this,  had  we  had  sailors, 
we  should  have  been  able  to  expose  canvas,  and  start  the  bark 
upon  her  course. 

1 stood  on  top  of  the  deck-house  watching  the  dawn  break. 
The  bleak  gray  stole  over  the  frothing  sea  and  turned  ashen 
the  curve  of  every  running  surge.  To  windward  the  ocean 
line  went  twisting  like  a corkscrew  upon  the  sky  and  seemed 
to  boil  and  wash  along  it  as  though  it  were  the  base  of  some 
smoking  wall.  There  was  nothing  in  sight.  I searched  every 
quarter  with  a passionate  intensity,  but  there  was  nothing  to  be 
seen.  But  now  the  sea  had  greatly  moderated,  and,  though 
the  decks  still  sobbed  with  wet,  it  was  only  at  long  intervals 
that  the  foam  flew  forward.  The  bark  looked  fearfully  wrecked, 
stranded,  and  sodden.  All  her  rigging  was  slack,  the  decks 


MY  DAKlSlI  SWEETflEARi'. 


U 

were  encumbered  with  the  ends  of  ropes,  the  weather  side  of 
the  mainsail  had  blown  loose  and  was  fluttering  in  rags,  though 
to  leeward  the  canvas  lay  furled. 

I went  on  to  the  quarter-deck  and  sounded  the  well.  Practice 
had  rendered  me  expert,  and  the  cast,  I did  not  doubt,  gave 
me  the  true  depth,  and  I felt  all  the  blood  in  me  rush  to  my 
heart  when  I beheld  such  an  indication  of  increase  as  was  the 
same  as  hearing  one^s  funeral  knell  rung,  or  of  a verdict  of 
death  pronounced  upon  one. 

I entered  the  deck-house  with  my  mind  resolved,  and  seated 
myself  at  the  table  over  against  where  Helga  lay  sleeping  upon 
the  locker,  to  consider  a little  before  arousing  her.  She 
showed  very  wan,  almost  haggard,  by  the  morning  light;  her 
parted  lips  were  pale,  and  she  wore  a restless  expression  even 
in  her  sleep.  It  might  be  that  my  eyes  being  fixed  upon  her 
face  aroused  her;  she  suddenly  looked  at  me,  and  then  sat  up. 
Just  then  a gleam  of  misty  sunshine  swept  the  little  windows. 

“ The  bad  weather  is  gone!^^  she  cried. 

“ It  is  still  too  bad  for  us,  though,^^  said  I. 

Does  the  wind  blow  from  the  land?^^  she  asked. 

“Ay!  and  freshly  too.^^ 

She  was  now  able  to  perceive  the  meaning  in  my  face,  and 
asked  me  anxiously  if  anything  new  had  happened  to  alarm 
me.  1 answered  by  giving  her  the  depth  of  water  1 had  found 
in  the  hold.  She  clasped  her  hands  and  started  to  her  feet, 
but  sat  again  on  my  making  a little  gesture. 

“ Miss  Nielsen/^  said  I,  “ the  bark  is  taking  in  water  very 
much  faster  than  we  shall  be  able  to  pump  it  out.  We  may 
go  on  plying  the  pump,  but  the  labor  can  only  end  in  break- 
ing our  hearts  and  wasting  precious  time  that  might  be  em- 
ployed to  some  purpose.  We  must  look  the  truth  in  the  face, 
and  make  up  our  minds  to  let  the  vessel  go,  and  to  do  our 
best,  with  God^s  help,  to  preserve  our  lives. 

“ What?^^  she  asked,  in  a low  voice,  that  indicated  awe 
lather  than  fear,  and  1 noticed  the  little  twitch  and  spasm  of 
her  mouth  swiftly  vanish  in  an  expression  of  resolution. 

“ We  must  go  to  work,^^  said  I,  “ and  construct  a raft,  then 
get  everything  in  readiness  to  sway  it  overboard.  The  weather 
may  enable  us  to  do  this.  1 pray  so.  It  is  our  only  hope, 
should  nothing  to  help  us  come  along. 

“ But  my  father?"^ 

“We  shall  have  to  get  him  out  of  his  cabin  on  to  the  raft.^^ 

“ But  how?  But  how?’^  she  cried,  with  an  air  of  wildness. 
“ He  can  not  move!’^ 

“ If  we  are  to  be  saved,  he  must  bo  saved,  at  all  events, 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


77 


said  L “ What  then  can  be  done  but  to  lower  him  in  his  cot, 
as  he  lies,  on  to  the  deck  and  so  drag  him  to  the  gangway  and 
sling  him  on  to  the  raft  by  a tackle?^’ 

“ Yes/^  she  said,  “ that  can  be  done.  It  will  have  to  be 
done.^^  She  reflected,  with  her  hands  tightly  locked  upon  her 
brow.  “ How  long  do  you  think,^^  she  asked,  “ will  the 
* Anine  * remain  afloat  if  we  leave  the  pumps  untouched?^"" 

“ Your  father  will  know,^^  said  1.  ‘‘  Let  us  go  to  him.^^ 

Captain  Nielsen  sat  erect  in  his  cot  munching  a biscuit. 

“ Ha!"’  he  cried  as  we  entered.  “ We  are  to  have  pleasant 
weather.  There  was  some  sunshine  upon  that  port  just  now. 
What  says  the  barometer,  Mr.  Tregarthen?""  Then  contract- 
ing his  brow  while  he  peered  at  his  daughter  as  though  he  had 
not  obtained  a view  of  her  before,  he  exclaimed:  “ What  is  the 
matter,  Helga?  What  have  you  come  to  tell  me?” 

“ Father,”  she  answered,  sinking  her  head  a little  and  so 
looking  at  him  through  her  eyelashes,  ‘‘Mr.  Tregarthen  be- 
lieves, and  I can  not  doubt  it,  for  there  is  the  sounding-rod  to 
tell  the  story,  that  water  is  fast  entering  the  ‘ Anine,"  and  that 
we  must  lose  no  time  to  prepare  to  leave  her.  ” 

“ What!”  he  almost  shrieked,  letting  fall  his  biscuit  and 
grasping  the  edge  of  his  cot  with  his  emaciated  hands,  and 
turning  his  body  to  us  from  the  waist,  leaving  his  legs  in 
their  former  posture  as  though  he  were  paralyzed  from  the 
hips  down.  “The  ‘Anine"  sinking?  prepare  to  leave  her? 
Why,  you  have  neglected  the  pump,  then!"’ 

“ No,  captain,  no,""  1 answered.  “Our  toil  has  been  as 
regular  as  we  have  had  strength  for.  Already  your  daughter 
has  done  too  much;  look  at  her!""  1 cried,  pointing  to  the  girl. 
“ Judge  with  your  father’s  eye  for  how  much  longer  she  is 
capable  of  holding  out!"" 

“ The  pump  must  be  manned!""  he  exclaimed,  in  such  an- 
other shrieking  note  as  he  had  before  delivered.  ‘ ‘ The  ‘ Anine " 
must  not  sink;  she  is  all  I have  in  the  world.  My  child  will  be 
left  to  starve!  Oh,  she  has  strength  enough.  Helga,  the  gen- 
tleman does  not  know  your  strength  and  courage!  And  you, 
sir — you,  Mr.  Tregarthen — ach!  God!  You  will  not  let  your 
courage  fail  you— you  who  came  here  on  a holy  and  beautiful 
errand — no,  no!  you  will  not  let  yoiir  courage  fail  you,  now 
that  the  wind  is  ceasing  and  the  sun  has  broken  forth  and  the 
worst  is  past?"" 

Helga  looked  at  me. 

“Captain  Nielsen,""  said  I,  “if  there  were  a dozen  of  us 
we  might  hope  to  keep  your  ship  long  enough  afloat  to  give 
us  a chance  of  being  rescued;  but  not  twelve,  nor  fifty  men 


?8 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


could  save  her  for  you.  The  tempest  has  made  a sieve  of  her, 
and  what  we  have  now  to  do  is  to  construct  a raft  while  we 
have  time  and  opportunity,  and  to  be  ceaseless  in  our  prayers 
that  the  weather  may  suffer  us  to  launch  it  and  to  exist  upon 
it  until  we  are  succored.’^ 

He  gazed  at  me  with  a burning  eye,  and  breathed  as  though 
he  must  presently  suflfocate. 

“ Oh,  but  for  a few  hours^  use  of  my  limbs!^^  he  cried,  lift- 
ing his  trembling  hands.  1 would  show  you  both  how  the 
will  can  be  made  to  master  the  body^s  weakness.  Must  I lie 
here  without  power?^^  and  as  he  said  these  words  he  grasped 
again  the  edge  of  his  cot,  and  writhed  so  that  I was  almost  pre- 
pared to  see  him  heave  himself  out;  but  the  agony  of  the 
wrench  was  too  much;  his  face  grew  whiter  still,  he  groaned 
low,  and  lay  back,  with  his  brow  glistening  with  sweat-drops. 

“ Oh,  father!^^  cried  Helga,  “ bear  with  us!  Indeed  it  is 
as  Mr.  Tregarthen  says.  I feared  it  last  night,  and  this  morn- 
ing has  made  me  sure.  We  must  not  think  of  the  ship,  but  of 
ourselves,  and  of  you,  father,  dear — of  you,  my  poor,  dear 
father!^^  She  broke  off  with  a sob. 

I waited  till  he  had  recovered  a little  from  the  torment  he 
had  caused  himself,  and  then  gently,  but  with  a manner  that 
let  him  know  that  1 was  resolved,  began  to  reason  with  him. 
He  lay,  apparently,  listening  apathetically;  but  his  nostrils, 
wide  with  breathing,  and  the  hurried  motions  of  his  breast 
were  warrant  enough  of  the  state  of  his  mind.  While  I ad- 
dressed him  Helga  went  out,  and  presently  returned  with  the 
sounding-rod,  dark  with  wet  fresh  from  the  well.  He  turned 
his  feverish  eyes  upon  it,  but  merely  shook  his  head  and  lightly 
wrung  his  hands. 

“ Father,  you  see  it  for  yourself  she  cried. 

“ Miss  Nielsen,’^  said  I,  we  are  wasting  precious  minutes. 
Will  your  father  tell  you  what  depth  of  water  his  ship  must  take 
in  to  founder?^^ 

He,  poor  fellow,  made  no  response,  but  continued  to  stare 
at  the  rod  in  her  hand  as  though  his  intelligence  on  a sudden 
was  all  abroad. 

“ Shall  we  go  to  work?^^  said  I.  She  looked  at  her  father 
wistfully.  “ Oorne,^"  1 exclaimed,  “ we  know  we  are  right. 
We  must  make  an  effort  to  save  ourselves.  Are  not  our  lives 
our  lirst  consideration?^^ 

1 stepped  to  the  door;  as  I put  my  hand  to  it.  Captain  Niel- 
sen cried:  “ If  you  do  not  save  the  ship,  how  will  you  save  your- 
selves?^^ 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART.  79 

We  must  at  once  put  some  sort  of  raft  together/^  said  I, 
halting. 

“ A raft!  in  this  sea!^^  he  clasped  his  hands  and  uttered  a 
low  mocking  laugh  that  was  more  than  shocking  in  him  than 
the  maddest  explosion  of  temper  could  have  shown. 

I could  no  longer  linger  to  hear  his  objections.  Helga  might 
be  very  dear  to  him,  but  his  ship  stood  first  in  his  mind,  and  1 
had  no  idea  of  breaking  my  heart  at  the  pump  and  then  of 
being  drowned  after  all.  My  hope  was  indeed  a forlorn  one, 
but  it  was  a chance  also;  whereas,  I knew  that  the  ship  would 
give  us  no  chance  whatever.  Besides,  our  making  ready  for 
the  worst  would  not  signify  that  we  should  abandon  the  vessel 
until  her  settling  forced  us  over  the  side.  And  was  the  gentle, 
heroic  Helga  to  perish  without  a struggle  on  my  part,  because 
her  father  clung  with  a sick  rnan^s  craziness — which  in  health 
he  might  be  quick  to  denounce — to  this  poor  tempest-strained 
bark  that  was  all  he  had  in  the  world? 

I went  out  and  on  to  the  deck,  and  was  standing  thinking  a 
minute  upon  the  raft  and  how  we  should  set  about  it,  when 
Helga  joined  me. 

‘‘  He  is  too  ill  to  be  reasonable,^^  she  exclaimed. 

“ Yes,^^  said  1,  “ but  we  will  save  him,  and  ourselves  too, 
if  we  can.  Let  us  lose  no  more  time.  Do  you  observe  that 
the  wind  has  sensibly  decreased  even  while  we  have  been  talking 
in  your  father’s  cabin?  The  sky  has  opened  more  yet  to  wind- 
ward, and  the  seas  are  running  with  much  less  weight.  ” 

As  1 spoke  the  sun  flashed  into  a rift  in  the  vapor  sweeping 
down  the  eastern  heaven,  and  the  glance  of  the  foam  to  the 
splendor,  and  the  sudden  brightening  of  the  cloud-shadowed 
sea  into  blue,  animated  me,  like  some  new-born  hope,  and  was 
almost  as  invigorating  to  my  spirits  as  though  my  eyes  had 
fallen  upon  the  gleam  of  a.  sail  heading  our  way. 

1 should  but  weary  you  to  relate,  step  by  step,  how  we  went 
to  work  to  construct  the  raft.  The  motion  of  the  deck  was 
still  very  violent,  but  it  found  us  now  as  seasoned  as  though 
we  had  kept  the  sea  for  years;  and,  indeed,  the  movement  was 
becoming  mere  child’s  play  after  the  tossing  of  the  night.  A 
long  hour  of  getting  such  booms  as  we  wanted  oS  the  sailors’ 
house  on  to  the  deck,  and  of  collecting  other  materials  for  our 
needs,  was  not,  by  a very  great  deal,  so  exhausting  as  ten 
minutes  at  the  pump.  We  broke  oB  a little  after  nine  o’clock 
to  get  some  food,  and  to  enable  Helga  to  see  her  father;  and 
now  the  cast  we  took  with  the  sounding-rod  advised  us,  with 
most  bitter  significance  of  indication,  that,  even  though  my 
companion  and  I had  strength  to  hold  to  the  pump  for  a 


80 


MY  DANISH  8WEETHEABT. 


whole  watch — I mean  for  four  hours  at  a spell — the  water  would 
surely,  if  but  a little  more  slowly,  vanquish  us  in  the  end. 
Indeed,  there  was  no  longer  question  that  the  vessel  had,  in 
some  parts  of  her,  been  seriously  strained,  and,  though  I held 
my  puace,  my  sincere  conviction  was  that,  unless  some  miracle 
arrested  the  ingress  of  the  water,  she  would  not  be  afloat  at 
five  o’clock  that  day. 

By  one  we  had  completed  the  raft,  and  it  lay  against  the 
main-hatch,  ready  to  be  swayed  over  the  side  and  launched. 
1 had  some  small  knowledge  of  boat  building,  having  acquired 
what  I knew  from  a small  yard  down  past  the  life-boat  house 
at  Tintrenale,  where  boats  were  built,  and  where  I had  killed 
many  an  hour,  pipe  in  mouth,  watching  and  asking  questions, 
and  even  lending  a hand;  and  in  constructing  this  raft  I 
found  my  slender  boat-building  experiences  very  useful.  First 
we  made  a frame  of  four  stout  studding-sail  booms,  which  we 
securely  lashed  to  four  empty  casks,  two  of  which  lay  handy 
to  our  use,  while  of  the  other  two,  one  we  found  in  the  galley, 
a third  full  of  slush,  and  the  other  in  the  cabin  below  where  the 
provisions  were  stored.  We  decked  the  frame  with  booms,  of 
which  there  was  a number,  as  1 have  previously  said,  stacked 
on  top  of  the  sailors’  deck-house,  and  to  this  we  securely 
lashed  planking,  to  which  we  attached  some  hatchway  covers, 
binding  the  whole  with  turn  upon  turn  of  rope.  To  improve 
our  chance  of  being  seen,  I provided  for  setting  up  a topgal- 
lant-studdingsail  boom  as  a mast,  at  the  head  of  which  we 
should  be  able  to  show  a color.  I also  took  care  to  hedge  the 
sides  with  a little  bulwark  of  life-lines  lest  the  raft  should  be 
swept.  There  were  many  interstices  in  this  fabric  fit  for  hold- 
ing a stock  of  provisions  and  water. 

1 had  no  fear  of  its  not  floating  high,  nor  of  its  not  holding 
together;  but  it  would  be  impossible  to  express  the  heaviness 
of  heart  with  which  I labored  at  this  thing.  The  raft  had 
always  been  the  most  dreadful  nightmare  of  the  sea  to  my  im- 
agination. The  stories  of  the  sufferings  it  had  been  the  theater 
of  were  present  to  my  mind  as  T worked,  and  again  and  again 
they  would  cause  me  to  break  off  and  send  a despairing  look 
round;  but  never  a sail  showed;  the  blankness  was  that  of  the 
heavens. 

We  had  half-masted  a second  Danish  ensign  after  coming  out 
from  breaking  our  fast,  and  one  needed  but  to  look  at  the  breezy 
ri[)pling  of  its  iai  ge  folds  to  know  that  the  wind  was  becoming 
rapidly  scant.  By  one  o’clock,  indeed,  it  was  blowing  no  more 
than  a pleasant  air  of  wind,  still  out  of  the  north-east.  The 
stormy  smoke-like  clouds  of  the  morning  were  gone,  and  the 


MY  DA^TISH  SWEETHEART. 


81 


sky  was  now  mottled  by  little  heaps  of  prismatic  vapor  that 
sailed  slowly  under  a higher  delicate  shading  of  cloud,  widely 
broken,  and  showing  much  clear  liquid  blue,  and  suffering  the 
sun  to  shine  very  steadily.  There  was  a long  swell  rolling 
out  of  the  north-east;  but  the  brows  were  so  wide  apart  that 
there  was  no  violence  whatever  in  the  swaying  of  the  bark 
upon  it.  The  wind  crisped  these  swinging  folds  of  water,  and 
the  surface  of  the  ocean  scintillated  with  lines  of  small  seas 
crisping,  with  merry  curlings,  into  foam.  But  it  was  fine- 
weather  water,  and  the  barometer  had  risen  greatly,  and  1 could 
now  believe  that  there  was  nothing  more  in  the  rapidity  of  its 
indications  than  a promise  of  a pleasant  day  and  of  light  winds. 

1 could  have  done  nothing  without  Helga.  Her  activity,  her 
intelligence,  her  spirit,  were  amazing,  not  indeed  only  because 
she  was  a girl,  but  because  she  was  a girl  who  had  undergone  a 
day  and  two  frightful  nights  of  peril  and  distress,  who  had  slept 
but  little,  and  whose  labors  at  the  pump  might  have  exhausted 
a seasoned  sailor.  She  seemed  to  know  exactly  what  to  do, 
was  wise  in  every  suggestion,  and  1 could  never  glance  at  her 
face  without  finding  the  sweetness  of  it  rendered  noble  by  the 
heroism  of  the  heart  that  showed  in  her  firm  mouth,  her  com- 
posed countenance,  and  steadfast  determined  gaze. 

At  times  we  would  break  off  to  sound  the  well,  and  never 
without  finding  a fresh  nimbleness  coming  into  our  hands  and 
feet,  a wilder  desire  of  hurry  penetrating  our  spirits  from  the 
assurance  of  the  rod.  Steadily,  inch  by  inch,  the  water  was 
gaining,  and  already  at  this  hour  of  one  o’clock  it  was  almost 
easy  to  guess  the  depth  of  it  by  the  sluggishness  of  the  vessel’s 
rolling,  by  the  drowning  character  of  her  languid  recovery  from 
the  slant  of  the  swell.  I felt  terribly  confident,  however,  that 
she  would  keep  afloat  for  some  hours  yet,  and  God  knows  we 
could  not  have  too  much  time  granted  to  us,  for  there  was 
much  to  be  done;  the  raft  to  be  launched  and  provisioned,  and 
the  hardest  part  was  yet  to  come,  I mean  the  bringing  of  the 
sick  captain  from  his  cabin  and  hoisting  him  over  the  side. 

At  one  o’clock  we  broke  off  again  to  refresh  ourselves  with 
food  and  drink,  and  Helga  saw  to  her  father.  For  my  part  I 
would  not  enter  his  berth.  I dreaded  his  expostulations  and  re- 
proaches, and,  indeed,  I may  say  that  I shrunk  from  even  the 
sight  of  him,  so  grievous  were  his  white  face  and  dying  manner 
— so  depressing  to  me,  who  could  not  look  at  the  raft  and  then 
turn  my  eyes  upon  the  ocean  without  guessing  that  I was  as 
fully  a dying  man  as  he,  and  that,  when  the  sun  set  this  night, 
it  might  go  down  forever  upon  us. 

There  was  but  one  way  of  getting  the  raft  over,  and  that  was 


82 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


by  the  winch  and  a tackle  at  the  main  yard-arm.  Helga  said 
she  would  take  the  tackle  aloft,  but  I ran  my  eye  over  her  boy- 
clad  figure  with  a smile,  and  said  She  was,  indeed, 

a better  sailor  than  I,  but  it  would  be  strange,  indeed,  if  I was 
unable  to  secure  a block  to  the  yardarm.  We  braced  in  the 
mainyard  until  the  arm  of  it  was  fair  over  the  gangway,  and  I 
then  took  the  tackle  aloft  and  attached  the  block  by  the  tail 
of  it. 

I lay  over  the  yard  for  a minute  or  two  while  I looked  round ; 
but  the  sea  brimmed  unbroken  toward  the  sky,  and  I descend- 
ed, again  and  again  shuddering  without  control  over  myself, 
as  I gazed  at  the  little  fabric  of  the  raft  and  contrasted  it  with 
the  size  of  the  ship  that  was  slowly  foundering,  and  then  with 
the  great  sea  upon  whose  surface  it  would  presently  be  afloat — 
the  only  object,  perhaps,  under  the  eyes  of  heaven  for  leagues 
and  leagues! 

Our  business  now  was  to  get  the  raft  over  the  side.  I should 
have  to  fatigue  and  perhaps  perplex  you  with  technicalities 
exactly  to  explain  our  management  of  it.  Enough  if  I say 
that,  by  hooking  on  the  lower  block  of  the  tackle  to  ropes  which 
formed  slings  for  the  raft,  and  by  taking  the  hauling  part  to 
the  winch,  we  very  easily  swayed  the  structure  clear  of  the  bul- 
wark rail — for  you  must  know  that  the  winch,  with  its  arrange- 
ments of  handles,  cogs,  and  pawls,  is  a piece  of  shipboard 
mechanism  with  which  a couple  of  persons  may  do  as  much  as 
a dozen  might  be  able  to  achieve  using  their  arms  only. 

When  the  raft  was  high  enough  Helga  stood  by  the  winch 
ready  to  slacken  away  on  my  giving  the  word  of  command, 
while  I went  to  a line  which  held  the  fabric  over  the  deck. 
This  line  1 eased  off  until  the  raft  had  swung  fairly  over  the 
water,  and  then  called  to  Helga  to  slacken  away,  and  the  raft 
sunk,  and  in  a minute  or  two  was  water-borne,  riding  upon 
the  swell  alongside,  and  buoyed  by  the  casks  even  higher  above 
the  surface  than  1 had  dared  hope. 

‘‘  Now,  Miss  Nielsen!’^  cried  1. 

“ Oh!  pray  call  me  Helga,^^  she  broke  in;  ‘‘  it  is  my  name: 
it  is  short!  I seem  to  answer  to  it  more  readily,  and  in  this 
time,  this  dreadful  time,  I could  wish  to  have  it,  and  none 
otber!^^ 

“ Then,  Helga, said  I,  even  in  such  a moment  as  this 
feeling  my  heart  warm  to  the  brave,,  good,  gentle  little  creat- 
ure as  I pronounced  the  V/ord,  “ we  must  provision  the  raft 
without  delay.  Our  essential  needs  will  be  fresh  water  and 
biscuit.  What  more  have  you  in  your  provision-room  below?^^ 

“ Come  with  me!^^  said  she,  and  we  run  into  the  deck-house 


MY  SWEETHEART. 


83 


And  descended  the  hatch,  leaving  the  ratt  securely  floating 
alongside,  not  only  in  the  grip  of  the  yardarm  tackle,  which 
the  swaying  of  the  vessel  had  fully  overhauled,  but  in  the  hold 
of  the  line  with  which  we  had  slacked  the  structure  over  the 
rail. 

It  was  still  dark  enough  below;  but  when  we  opened  the  door 
of  the  berth,  in  which  as  I have  told  you  the  cabin  provisions 
were  stowed,  we  found  the  sunshine  upon  the  scuttle  or  port- 
hole, and  the  apartment  lay  clear  in  the  light.  In  about  twenty 
minutes,  and  after  some  three  or  four  journeys,  we  had  con- 
veyed on  deck  as  much  provisions  as  might  serve  to  keep  three 
persons  for  about  a month:  cans  of  meat,  some  hams,  several 
tins  of  biscuit,  cheese,  and  other  matters,  whiclr  I need  not 
catalogue.  But  we  had  started  the  fresh  water  in  the  scuttle- 
butts that  they  might  be  emptied  to  serve  as  floats  for  the  raft, 
and  now  we  had  to  find  a cask  or  receptacle  for  drinking-water, 
and  to  fill  it  too  from  the  stock  in  the  hold.  Here  I should  have 
been  at  a loss  but  for  Helga,  who  knew  where  the  bark's  fresh 
water  was  stowed.  Again  we  entered  the  cabin  or  provision- 
room,  and  returned  with  some  jars  whose  contents  we  emptied 
— vinegar,  I believe  it  was,  but  the  hurry  my  mind  was  then  in 
rendered  it  weak  in  its  reception  of  small  impressions;  these 
we  filled  with  fresh  water  from  a tank  conveniently  stowed  in 
the  main  hatchway,  and  as  I filled  them  Helga  carried  them 
on  deck. 

While  we  were  below  at  this  work  I bade  her  listen. 

“ Yes,  I hear  it!"  she  cried:  “ it  is  water  in  the  hold." 

With  every  sickly  lean  of  the  bark  you  could  hear  the  water 
inside  of  her  seething  among  the  cargo  as  it  cascaded  now  to 
port  and  now  to  starboard. 

Helga,  she  can  not  live  long,"  said  L I believe,  but 
for  the  hissing  of  the  water,  we  should  hear  it  bubbling  into 
her." 

I handed  her  up  the  last  of  the  jars,  and  grasped  the  coam- 
ing of  the  hatch  to  clamber  on  to  the  deck,  for  the  cargo  came 
high.  As  I did  this,  something  seemed  to  touch  and  claw  me 
upon  the  back,  and  a huge  black  rat  of  the  size  of  a kitten 
flashed  from  my  shoulder  on  to  the  deck  and  vanished  in  a 
breath.  Helga  screamed,  and  indeed,  for  the  moment,  my 
own  nerves  wt  re  not  a little  shaken,  for  I distinctly  felt  the 
wire-like  whisker  of  the  horrible  creature  brush  my  cheek  as 
it  sprung  from  my  shoulder. 

“ If  there  be  truth  in  the  proverb,"  said  I,  we-need  no 
surer  hint  of  what  is  coming  than  the  behavior  of  (hat  raj;." 

The  girl  shuddered  and  gazed,  with  eyes  bright  with  alarm. 


84 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


into  the  hold,  recoiling  as  she  did  so.  I believe  the  prospect 
of  drifting  about  on  a raft  was  less  terrible  to  her  than  the 
idea  of  a second  rat  leaping  upon  one  or  the  other  of  us. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 
adrift! 

It  was  necessary  that  we  should  have  everything  in  readiness 
before  we  carried  j)oor  Captain  Nielsen  out  of  his  cabin.  I 
unshipped  the  gangway,  and,  watching  an  opportunity  as  the 
swell  lifted  the  raft  against  the  side  of  the  bark  stooping  to  it, 
I sprung;  but  I could  not  have  imagined  the  weight  and  vol- 
ume of  the  swell  until  I had  gained  the  frail  platform.  Indeed, 
one  could  feel  that  the  wrath  kindled  by  the  tempest  still  lived 
in  the  deep  bosom  of  the  ocean.  It  was  like  a stern,  revenge- 
ful breathing;  but  the  wind  was  light,  and  the  water  but  de- 
licately brushed,  and  it  was  easy  to  foresee  that  if  no  more 
wind  blew  the  swell  would  have  greatly  flattened  down  by  sun- 
set. Yet  the  manner  in  which  the  hull  and  the  raft  came  to- 
gether terrified  me  with  a notion  of  our  contrivance  going  to 
pieces.  1 called  to  Helga,  as  she  threw  to  me  or  handed  the 
several  parcels  and  articles  we  had  collected  upon  the  deck, 
that  there  was  not  a moment  of  time  to  waste — that  we  must 
get  her  father  on  to  the  raft  without  delay;  and  then,  when 
I had  hastily  stowed  the  last  of  the  things,  I sprung  aboard 
again,  and  was  going  straight  to  the  captain’s  berth,  when  I 
suddenly  stopped  and  exclaimed:  First,  hov/  is  he  to  be  re- 
moved?” 

She  eyed  me  piteously.  Perhaps  her  seamanship  did  not 
reach  to  that  height;  or  may  be  her  fear  that  we  should  cause 
her  father  pain  impaired  her  perception  of  what  was  to  be 
done. 

“ Let  me  think  now,”  said  I.  “ It  was  certain  that  he  must 
be  lowered  to  the  deck  as  he  lies  in  his  cot.  Does  he  swing  by 
hooks?  I did  not  observe.” 

“Yes,”  she  answered,  “what  you  r^ould  call  the  clews 
come  together  to  a point  as  in  a hammock,  and  spread  at  the 
foot  and  head.” 

“ Then  there  must  be  iron  eyes  in  the  upper  deck,”  cried  I, 
“ to  receive  the  hooks.  Now  see  here;  we  shall  have  to  get  a 
sling  at  each  end  of  the  cot,  attach  a J'ne  to  it,  the  ends  of 
which  we  will  pass  through  the  eyes,  and  when  this  is  done  we 
will  cut  away  the  clews  and  'so  lower  him.  Yes,  that  will 
do,”  said  I.  “ I have  it,”  and  looking  about  me  for  such  a 


MY  DANiSH  SWEETHEART. 


thickness  of  rope  as  1 needed,  I overhauled  some  fathoms, 
passed  my  knife  through  the  length,  and  together  we  hastened 
to  the  captain^s  berth. 

“ What  is  it  now?^^  he  asked,  in  a feeble  voice,  as  we  entered. 

“ Everything  is  ready.  Captain  Nielsen,^’  said  I;  “ there  is 
no  time  to  lose.  The  cargo  is  washing  about  in  the  hold,  and 
the  ship  has  not  another  hour  of  life  left  in  her.^^ 

“ What  is  it  that  you  want?^^  said  he,  looking  dully  at  the 
coil  of  rope  1 held  in  my  hand. 

“ Father,  we  are  here  to  carry  you  to  the  raft.^^ 

“ To  the  raft!’^  he  exclaimed,  with  an  air  of  bewilderment, 
and  then  he  added,  while  I noticed  a little  color  of  temper 
enter  his  cheeks:  ‘‘I  have  nothing  to  do  with  your  raft.  It 
was  in  your  power  to  save  the  poor  ^ Anine.^  If  she  is  to  found- 
er, I will  go  down  with  her.^^ 

So  saying,  he  folded  his  a^ms  upon  his  bosom  in  a posture 
of  resolution,  viewing  me  with  all  the  severity  his  sickness 
would  suffer  his  eyes  to  express.  Nevertheless,  there  was  a 
sort  of  silliness  in  the  whole  manner  of  him  which  might  have 
persuaded  the  most  heedless  observer  that  the  poor  fellow  was 
rapidly  growing  less  and  less  responsible  for  his  behavior.  Had 
he  been  a powerful  man,  or,  indeed,  possessed  the  use  of  his 
extremities,  I should  have  dreaded  what  is  termed  a “ scene. 
As  it  was,  nothing  remained  but  to  treat  him  as  a child,  to 
tackle  him,  with  all  tenderness,  but  as  swiftly  as  possible,  and 
to  get  him  over  the  side. 

There  was  a dreadful  expression  of  distress  in  Helga^s  face 
when  she  looked  at  him;  but  her  glances  at  me  were  very  full 
of  assurance  that  she  was  of  my  mind,  and  that  she  would 
approve  and  be  with  me  in  sympathy  in  whatever  I resolved  to 
do.  Whipping  out  my  knife,  I cut  lengths  oft  the  rope  1 held 
to  make  slings  of.  I carried  one  of  these  slings  to  the  cot  and 
passed  it  over  the  end.  The  captain  extended  his  hand,  and 
attempted  to  thrust  me  aside.  The  child-like  weakness  of 
that  trembling  push  would,  in  a time  of  less  wretchedness  and 
peril  than  this,  have  unnerved  me  with  pity. 

‘‘  Bear  with  me!  Be  yourself,  captain!  Show  yourself  the 
true  Danish  sailor  that  you  are  at  heart—- for  Helga^ssake!^^  I 
exclaimed. 

He  covered  his  eyes  and  sobbed. 

I secured  the  slings  to  the  cot,  and,  until  we  lowered  him 
to  the  deck,  he  held  his  face  hidden  in  his  hands.  I wove  two 
lengths  of  line  through  the  iron  eyes  at  which  the  cot  slung, 
in  the  manner  I had  described  to  Helga,  and  when  the  weight 
of  the  cot  was  on  these  lines  we  belayed  one  end,  holding  by 


86 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


tho  other.  1 then  passed  my  knife  through  the  “ crow’a-feet,^^ 
as  it  would  be  called,  or  thin  lines  which  supported  the  cot, 
and,  going  to  the  rope  I had  belayed,  bid  Helga  lower  her  end 
as  I lowered  mine,  and  the  cot  descended  safely  to  the  deck. 
The  girl  then  came  round  to  the  head  of  the  cot,  and  together 
we  dragged  it  out  of  the  house  on  to  the  deck. 

Saving  a little  wrench  when  we  hauled  the  cot  over  the  coam- 
ing of  the  deck-house  door,  the  poor  man  was  put  to  no  pain. 
It  was  merciful  indeed  that  he  should  have  lain  ill  in  the  deck- 
house, for  had  he  occupied  a cabin  below  I can  not  imagine 
how  we  should  have  got  him  out  on  to  the  deck  without  killing 
him  with  the  anguish  which  wo  should  have  been  forced  by 
our  efforts  to  cause  him. 

When  we  had  got  him  to  the  gangway  I sprung  on  to  the 
raft  and  caught  hold  of  the  block  that  dangled  at  the  extrem- 
ity of  the  yardarm  tackle.  With  this  I returned  to  the  bark, 
and,  just  as  we  had  got  the  raft  over,  so  did  we  sway  the  poor 
captain  on  to  her.  I got  on  to  the  raft  to  receive  him  as  Helga 
lowered  the  cot.  He  descended  gently,  and  on  my  crying 
“ Let  go!^^  she  swiftly  released  the  line,  and  the  tackle  over- 
hauled itself  to  the  roll  of  the  vessel. 

I remember  exclaiming  “ Thank  God!^^  when  this  job  was 
ended  and  I had  unhooked  the  block,  as  though  the  worst  was 
over;  and  indeed,  in  the  mere  business  of  abandoning  the  bark, 
the  worst  had  ended  with  the  bestowal  of  the  sick  and  helpless 
captain  on  the  raft.  But  what  was  now  to  begin?  My 
“Thank  God!"^  seemed  to  sound  like  a piece  of  irony  in  my 
heart  when  1 looked  from  the  deep,  wet,  gleaming  side  of  the 
leaning  hull  waving  her  wrecked  spars  in  the  reddening  light 
of  the  sun— when  I looked  from  her,  1 say,  to  seaward,  where 
the  flowing  lines  of  the  lifting  and  falling  swell  were  running 
bald  and  foamless  into  the  south-west  sky. 

Helga  came  to  the  gangway  and  called  to  know  if  all  were 
well  with  her  father. 

“ All  is  well,^^  I answered.  “ Come  now,  Helga!  There 
is  nothing  to  detain  us.  We  shall  be  wise  to  cast  adrift  from 
the  bark.  She  is  very  much  down  by  the  head,  and  the  next 
dip  may  be  her  last.’’ 

“ A few  minutes  can  not  signify,”  she  cried.  “ There  are 
one  or  two  things  1 should  like  to  bring  with  me.  I wish  to 
possess  them,  if  we  are  preserved.” 

“ Make  haste,  then!”  I called.  She  disappeared,  and  I 
turncil  Lo  the  captain,  lie  looked  up  at  me  out  of  his  cot 
with  eyes  irj  which  all  the  feverish  lire  of  the  morning  was 
quenched. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


87 


Is  Helga  remaining  in  the  bark?’^  he  asked,  listlessly. 

‘‘  God  forbid!^^  cried  L.  “ She  will  be  with  us  in  a minute 
or  two/^ 

“ It  is  a cruel  desertion/^  said  he.  “ Poor  ‘ Auine!^  You 
were  to  have  been  kept  afloat 

It  was  idle  to  reason  with  him.  He  was  clothed  as  I had 
found  him  when  I had  first  seen  him — in  a waistcoat  and 
serge  coat,  and  a shawl  round  his  neck;  but  he  was  without  a 
hat — a thing  to  be  overlooked  at  such  a time  as  this — and  the 
lower  part  of  him  was  protected  only  by  the  blankets  he  lay 
under.  There  was  still  time  to  supply  his  requirements.  I 
had  noticed  his  wideawake  and  a long  cloak  hanging  in  his 
berth,  and  I immediately  sprung  on  board,  rushed  aft,  pro- 
cured them,  and  returned.  Helga  was  still  below.  I put 
the  hat  on  the  captain^s  head  and  clasped  the  cloak  over  his 
shoulders,  fretting  over  the  girPs  absence,  for  every  minute 
was  cornmunicating  a 'deadlier  significance  to  the  languid^ 
sickly,  dying  motions  of  the  fast-drowning  hulk 

I think  about  ten  minutes  had  passed  since  she  left  the  bark's 
side  to  go  to  her  cabin,  when,  bringing  my  eyes  away  from  the 
sea,  into  whose  eastern  quarter  I had  been  gazing  with  some 
wild  hope  or  fancy  in  me  of  a sail  down  there — though  it 
proved  no  more  than  a feather-tip  of  cloud— I saw  Helga  in 
the  gangway.  I say  Helga,  but  for  some  moments  1 did  not 
know  her.  1 started  and  stared  as  if  she  had  been  a ghost. 
Instead  of  the  boyish  figure  to  which  my  sight  was  already  used, 
there  stood  in  the  aperture,  betwixt  the  bulwarks  which  we 
calf  the  gangway,  a girl  who  looked  at  least  half  a head  taller 
than  the  Helga  who  had  been  my  associate.  I might  have 
guessed  at  once  that  this  appearance  of  stature  in  her  was  due 
to  her  gown,  but,  as  I did  not  suspect  that  she  had  gone  to 
change  her  dress,  her  suggestion  of  increased  height  completed 
the  astonishment  and  perplexity  with  which  I regarded  her. 
She  stood  on  the  leaning  and  swaying  side  of  the  bark,  as  per- 
fect a figure  of  a maiden  as  mortal  eyes  could  wish  to  rest  cu. 
Her  dress  was  of  dark-blue  serge  that  clung  to  her:  she  also 
wore  a cloth  jacket,  thinly  edged  about  the  neck  and  where  it 
buttoned  with  fur,  and  upon  her  head  was  a turban-shaped 
hat  of  sealskin,  the  dark  glossy  shade  of  which  brightened  her 
short  hair  into  a complexion  of  the  palest  gold.  She  held  a 
parcel  in  her  hand,  and  called  to  me  to  take  it  from  her.  I 
did  so,  and  cried : 

“ You  will  not  be  able  to  jump  from  the  gangway.  Get  into 
the  fore-chains,  and  I will  endeavor  to  haul  the  raft  up  to 
youP' 


88 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


But  even  as  1 spoke  she  grasped  her  dress  and  disclosed 
her  little  feet,  and  with  a bound  gained  the  raft  as  it  rose  with 
the  swell,  yielding  on  her  knees  as  she  struck  the  platform 
with  the  grace  that  nothing  but  the  teaching  of  old  ocean  could 
have  communicated  to  her  limbs. 

“ Thank  God  you  are  here!'^  I cried,  catching  her  by  the 
hand.  “ I was  growing  uneasy — in  another  minute  I should 
have  sought  you.^^ 

She  faintly  smiled,  and  then  turned  eagerly  to  her  father. 

“ 1 have  mother’s  portrait,”  said  she,  pointing  to  the  parcel, 
“and  her  Bible.  I would  not  bring  away  more.  If  we  are 
to  perish,  they  will  go  with  us.” 

He  looked  at  her  with  a lack-luster  eye,  and  in  a low  voice 
addressed  a few  words  to  her  in  Danish.  She  answered  in  that 
tongue,  glancing  down  at  her  dress,  and  then  at  me,  and 
added,  in  English:  “ It  was  time,  father.  The  hard  work  is 
over.  I may  be  a girl  now,”  and  looking  along  the  sea  she 
sighed  bitterly. 

Her  father  brought  his  knitted  hands  to  his  brow,  and  never 
could  I have  imagined  the  like  of  the  look  of  mental  anguish 
that  was  on  his  face  as  he  did  this.  But  what  1 am  here  nar- 
rating did  not  occupy  above  a minute  or  two.  Indeed,  a 
longer  delay  than  this  was  not  to  have  been  suffered  if  we  de- 
sired the  raft  to  hold  together.  I let  go  the  line  that  held  the 
little  structure  to  the  bark,  and  getting  the  small  studding-sail 
boom  over — that  is,  the  boom  we  had  shipped  to  serve  as  a 
signal  mast — I thrust  with  it,  and,  Helga  helping  me,  we  got 
the  raft  clear  of  the  side  of  the  vessel.  The  leewardly  swell  on 
which  we  rode  did  the  rest  for  us,  and  not  a little  rejoiced  was 
I to  find  our  miserable  fabric  gradually  increasing  its  distance 
from  the  ‘ Anine;’  for  if  the  bark  foundered  with  us  close 
alongside  we  stood  to  be  swamped  in  the  vortex,  the  raft  scat- 
tered, and  ourselves  left  to  drown. 

It  now  wanted  about  twenty  minutes  to  sundown.  A weak 
air  still  blew,  but  the  few  clouds  that  still  lived  in  the  heavens 
floated  overhead  apparently  motionless;  yet  the  swell  continued 
large,  to  our  sensations  at  least,  upon  that  flat  structure,  and 
the  slope  of  the  platform  rapidly  grew  so  distressing  and  fa- 
tiguing to  our  limbs  that  we  were  glad  to  sit,  and  obtain  what 
refreshment  we  could  from  a short  rest. 

Among  the  things  we  had  brought  with  us  was  the  bull’s- 
eye  lamp,  togetlior  with  a can  of  oil,  a parcel  of  meshes,  and 
some  lucifer  matches.  I said  to  llelga: 

“ We  should  step  or  set  up  our  mast  before  it  grows  dark.” 

“ she  immirfid.  “ The  flag  we  will  hoist  will  not  b^ 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  89 

seen  in  the  dark  — knowing  that  the  mast  was  there  for  no 
other  purpose  than  to  display  a flag  on. 

“ But  we  ought  to  light  the  lamp  and  masthead  it/^  said  I, 
“ and  keep  it  burning  all  night — if  God  suffers  us  to  live 
through  the  night.  Who  can  tell  what  may  come  along — what 
vessel  invisible  to  us  may  perceive  the  light?’^ 

She  answered  quickly,  “Yes.  Your  judgment  is  clearer 
than  mine.  1 will  help  you  to  set  up  the  mast.^^ 

Her  father  again  addressed  her  in  Danish.  She  answered 
him,  and  then  said  to  me,  “ My  father  asks  why  we  are  wilh- 
out  a sail?^^ 

“ I thought  of  a sail,^^  I replied,  speaking  as  1 set  about  to 
erect  the  mast,  “ but  without  wind  it  could  not  serve  us,  and 
with  wind  it  would  blow  away  like  a cobweb.  It  would  have 
occupied  too  much  time  to  rig  and  securely  provide  for  a sail. 
Besides,  our  hopes  could  never  be  in  the  direction  of  such  a 
thing.  We  must  be  picked  up — there  is  no  other  chance  for 
us.^^ 

The  captain  made  no  response,  but  sat,  propped  upon  his 
pillows,  motionless,  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  bark. 

The  sun  had  sunk,  but  a strong  scarlet  yet  glowed  in  the 
western  sky  by  the  time  we  had  erected  and  stayed  the  spar. 
I then  lighted  the  lamp  and  ran  it  aloft  by  means  of  a line  and 
a little  block  which  I had  taken  care  to  throw  into  the  raft. 
This  finished,  we  seated  ourselves. 

There  was  now  nothing  more  to  be  done  but  watch  and  pray. 
This  was  the  most  solemn  and  dreadful  moment  that  had  as 
yet  entered  into  the  passage  of  our  fearful  and  astonishing  ex- 
perience. In  the  hurry  and  agitation  of  leaving  the  bark  theie 
had  been  scarcely  room  for  a pause.  All  we  could  think  of  was 
how  quickly  to  get  away,  how  speedily  to  equip  and  lauiu  h 
the  raft,  how  to  get  Captain  Nielsen  over,  and  the  like;  but 
all  this  was  ended:  we  could  now  think,  and  I felt  as  if  my 
heart  had  been  suddenly  crushed  in  me  as  I sat  on  the  slanting, 
falling  and  rising  platform,  viewing  the  bark,  that  lay  painted 
in  clear  black  lines  against  the  fast-dimming  glow  in  the  west. 

Helga  sat  close  against  her  father ^s  cot.  So  far  as  I was 
able  to  distinguish  her  face,  there  was  profound  grief  in  it  and 
a sort  of  dismay,  but  no  fear.  Her  gaze  was  steady,  and  the 
expression  of  her  mouth  firm.  Her  father  kept  his  eyes 
rooted  upon  his  ship.  I overheard  her  address  him  once  or 
twice  in  Danish,  but,  getting  no  reply,  she  sighed  heavily,  and 
Held  her  peace.  I was  too  exhausted  in  body  and  spirits  to 
desire  to  speak.  I remember  that  I sat,  or  rather  squatted, 
LpfScar-fasbioD;  upon  the  hatch-cover  that  somewhat  raised  the 


90 


MY  DJLNISH  SWElTHEAltT. 


platform  of  the  raft,  with  my  hands  clasped  upon  my  shina 
and  my  chin  on  a level  with  my  knees;  and  in  this  posture  I 
continued  for  some  time  motionless,  watching  the  “ Anine 
and  waiting  for  her  to  sink,  and  realizing  our  shocking  situa- 
tion to  the  degree  of  that  heart-crushing  sensation  in  me  which 
1 have  mentioned.  I was  exactly  clad  as  1 had  been  when  I 
boarded  the  bark  out  of  the  life-boat.  Never  once,  indeed, 
from  the  hour  of  my  being  in  the  vessel  down  to  the  present 
moment  had  I removed  my  oilskins,  saving  my  sou^- wester, 
v/hich  I would  take  from  my  head  when  I entered  the  cabin; 
and  I recollect  thinking  that  it  was  better  for  me  to  be  heavily 
than  thinly  clad,  because,  being  a stout  swimmer,  a light 
dress  would  help  me  to  a bitter  long  battle  for  life,  whereas 
the  clothes  1 had  on  must  make  the  struggle  brief  and  speed- 
ily drag  me  down  into  peace,  which  was,  indeed,  all  that  I could 
bring  my  mind  to  dwell  upon  now,  for  when  I sent  my  glance 
from  the  raft  to  the  darkling  ocean  1 felt  hopeless. 

The  rusty  hectic  died  out.  The  night  came  alone  in  a clear 
dusk  with  a faint  sighing  of  wind  over  the  raft  every  time  the 
swell  threw  her  up.  There  was  a silver  curl  of  moon  in  the 
south-west,  but  she  was  without  power  to  drop  so  much  as  a 
flake  of  her  light  into  the  dark  shadow  of  water  under  her. 
Yet  the  starlight  was  in  the  gloom,  and  it  was  not  so  dark  but 
that  I could  see  Helga^s  face  in  a sort  of  glimmer,  and  the 
white  outline  of  the  cot  and  configuration  of  the  raft  upon  the 
water  in  dusky  strokes. 

The  bark  floated  at  about  a cablets  length  distant  from  us,  a 
dark  mass,  rolling  in  a strangling  manner,  as  I might  know  by 
(he  sickly  slide  of  the  stars  in  the  squares  of  her  rigging  and 
along  the  pallid  lines  of  the  canvas  stowed  upon  her  yards. 
There  was  more  tenacity  of  life  in  her  than  I should  have  be- 
lieved possible,  and  I said  to  flelga: 

If  this  raft  were  a boat,  I would  board  the  bark  and  set 
her  on  fire.  She  may  float  through  the  night,  for  who  is  to 
kiiow  but  that  one  of  her  worst  leaks  may  have  got  choked, 
and  the  blaze  she  would  make  might  bring  us  help.^^ 

The  captain  uttered  some  exclamation  in  Danish  in  a small 
but  vehement  and  shrill  tone.  He  had  not  spoken  for  above 
an  hour,  and  I had  believed  him  sleeping  or  dying  and  speech- 
less. 

“ What  does  he  say?’^  I called  across  softly  to  Ilelga. 

“That  the  ‘ Anino^  might  have  been  saved  had  we  stood 
by  her,’^  she  answered,  struggling,  as  1 could  hear  by 
tremor  in  her  voice,  to  control  her  (ijCCCjits, 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAKT. 


91 


**  No,  no!’^  said  1,  almost  gruffly,  I fear,  with  the  mood  that 
was  upon  me  ot  helplessness,  despair,  and  the  kind  of  rage  that 
comes  with  the  perception  that  one  is  doomed  to  die  like  a rat, 
without  a chance,  without  a soul  of  all  those  one  loves  know- 
ing one^s  fate.  “ No,  no!’^  I cried,  the  ‘ Aiiine  ’ was  not 
to  be  saved  by  us  two,  nor  by  twenty  like  us,  Helga.  You 
know  that,  for  it  is  like  making  me  responsible  for  our  situa- 
tion here  to  doubt  it.^^ 

“ I do  not  doubt  it,^^  she  answered,  firmly  and  reproachfully. 

Captain  Nielsen  muttered  in  his  native  tongue;  but  I did  not 
inquire  what  he  said,  and  the  hush  of  the  great  ocean  night, 
with  its  delicate  threading  of  complaining  wind,  fell  upon  us. 

My  temper  of  despair  was  not  to  be  soothed  by  recollection 
of  this  time  yesterday,  by  perception  of  the  visible  evidence  of 
God^s  mercy  in  this  tranquillity  of  sky  and  sea  at  a time  when, 
but  for  the  change  of  the  weather,  we  had  certainly  been 
doomed.  I was  young;  I passionately  desired  to  live.  Had 
death  been  the  penalty  of  the  life-boat  attempt,  I might,  had 
time  been  granted  me,  contemplated  my  end  with  the  fortitude 
that  springs  from  the  sense  of  having  done  wejl.  But  what 
was  heroic  in  this  business  had  disappeared  out  of  it  when  the 
life-boat  capsized  and  left  me  safe  on  board.  It  was  now  no 
more  than  a vile  passage  of  prosaic  shipwreck,  with  its  attend- 
ant horror  of  lingering  death,  and  nothing  noble  in  what  had 
been  done,  or  that  might  yet  have  to  be  done,  to  prop  up  my 
spirits.  Thus  I sat  full  of  wretchedness,  and  miserably  think- 
ing, mechanically  eying  the  dusky  heap  of  bark;  then,  breaking 
away  from  my  afflicting  reverie,  I stood  up,  holding  by  the 
mast,  to  carefully  sweep  the  sea,  with  a prayer  for  the  Eight 
of  the  colored  gleams  of  a stearner^s  light,  since  there  was 
nothing  to  be  expected  in  the  way  of  a sail  in  this  cairn  that 
was  upon  the  water. 

I was  thus  occupied  when  I was  startled  by  a strange  cry — I 
can  not  describe  it.  It  resembled  the  moan  of  a wild  creature 
wounded  to  death,  but  with  a human  note  in  it  that  made  the 
sound  something  not  to  be  imagined.  For  an  instant  I be- 
lieved it  came  from  the  sea,  till  I saw  by  the  dim  light  of  the 
star-shine  the  figure  of  Captain  Nielsen,  in  a sitting  posture, 
pointing  with  the  whole  length  of  his  arm  in  the  direction  of 
his  bar£  I looked,  and  found  the  black  mass  of  hull  gone, 
and  nothing  showing  but  the  dark  line  of  spars  and  rigging, 
that  melted  out  of  my  sight  as  I watched.  A noise  of  rending, 
intermingled  with  the  shock  of  an  explosion,  came  from 
where  she  had  disappeared.  It  signified  no  more  than  the 
blowing  up  of  the  decks  as  she  sunk;  but  the  star-studded 


63  MY  DANISH  sweetheart. 

vastness  of  gloom  made  the  sound  appalling  beyond  language 
to  convey. 

“ Help!^^  cried  Ilelga.  My  father  is  dying. 

I gained  the  side  of  the  cot  in  a stride  and  knelt  by  him, 
but  there  was  no  more  to  be  seen  of  his  face  than  the  mere 
faint  whiteness  of  it,  and  I could  not  tell  whether  his  eyes 
were  open  or  not.  Imagining,  but  scarcely  hoping,  that  a 
dram  might  put  some  life  into  the  poor  fellow,  I lowered  the 
bulPs-eye  lamp  from  the  masthead  to  seek  for  one  of  the  jars 
of  spirits  we  had  stowed,  but  when  we  came  to  put  the  tin 
pannikin  to  his  lips  we  found  his  teeth  set. 

“He  is  not  dead,  Helga,^^  I cried;  “ he  is  in  a fit.  If  he 
were  dead  his  jaws  would  drop,^^  and  this  I supposed,  though 
1 knew  little  of  death  in  those  days. 

I flashed  the  bulFs-eye  upon  his  face,  and  observed  that 
though  his  eyes  were  open,  the  pupils  were  upturned  and  hidden. 
This,  with  the  whiteness  of  the  skin  and  the  emaciation  of  the 
lineaments,  made  a ghastly  picture  of  his  countenance,  and  the 
hysteric  sob  that  Helga  uttered  as  she  looked  made  me  grieve 
that  I should  have  thrown  the  light  upon  her  father. 

I mastheaded  the  lamp  again,  and  crouched  by  the  side  of 
the  cot  talking  to  Helga  across  the  recumbent  form  in  it. 
Who  could  remember  what  was  said  at  such  a time?  I weakly 
essayed  to  cheer  her,  but  soon  gave  up,  for  here  was  the  very 
figure  of  death  himself  lying  between  us,  and  there  was  death 
awaiting  us  in  the  black  invisible  folds  in  which  we  swung; 
and  what  had  I to  say  that  could  help  her  heart  at  such  a time? 
Occasionally  1 would  stand  erect  and  peer  around.  The  weak 
wind  that  went  moaning  past  us  as  the  raft  rose  to  the  liquid 
heave  had  the  chill  in  it  of  the  ocean  in  October;  and  fearing 
that  Helga^s  jacket  did  not  sufficiently  protect  her,  I pulled 
Oil  my  oilskin  coat — there  is  no  warmer  covering  for  ordinary 
apparel — and  induced  her  to  put  it  on.  Her  father  remained 
motionless,  but  by  stooping  my  ear  to  his  mouth  I could  catch 
the  noise  of  his  breathing  as  it  hissed  through  his  clinched  teeth. 
Yet  it  was  a sort  of  breathing  that  would  make  one  expect 
to  hear  it  die  out  in  a final  sigh  at  any  minute. 

1 mixed  a little  spirits  and  water,  and  gave  it  to  the  girl,  and. 
obliged  her  to  swallow  the  draught,  and  begged  her  to  eat  for 
the  sake  of  the  life  and  heart  food  would  give  her;  but  she  said 
“ IS’o,^’  and  her  frequent  silent  sobbing  silenced  me  on  that 
head,  for  how  could  one,  grieving  as  she  did,  swallow  food?  1 
filled  the  pannikin  for  myself  ami  emptied  it,  and  eat  a biscuit 
and  a pi(icn  of  cheese,  wliieh  were  near  my  hand  in  an  interstice 
of  the  raft,  and  then  lay  down  near  the  cot,  su])j)orting  my 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


93 


head  on  my  elboir.  Never  did  the  stars  seem  so  high,  so  in- 
haitely  remote,  as  they  seemed  to  me  that  night.  J felt  as 
though  I had  passed  into  another  world  that  mocked  the  senses 
with  a few  dim  semblances  of  things  which  a little  while  be- 
fore had  been  real  and  familiar.  The  very  paring  of  the  moon 
showed  small  as  though  looked  at  through  an  inverted  telescope, 
and  measurelessly  remote.  1 do  not  know  why  this  should 
have  been,  yet  once  afterward,  in  speaking  of  this  experience 
to  a man*  who,  in  a voyage  to  India,  had  fallen  overboard  on 
such  another  night  as  this  and  swum  for  three  hours,  he  told 
me  that  the  stars  had  seemed  to  him  as  to  me,  and  the  moon, 
which  with  him  was  neaily  full,  appeared  to  have  shrunk  to 
the  size  of  the  planet  Venus. 

After  awhile  the  captain’s  breathing  grew  less  harsh,  and 
Helga  asked  me  to  bring  the  lamp  that  she  might  look  at  him. 
His  teeth  were  no  longer  set,  and  his  eyes  as  in  nature,  saving 
that  there  was  no  recognition  in  them,  and  I observed  that  he 
stared  straight  into  the  brilliant  glass  of  magnified  fiame  with- 
out winking  or  averting  his  gaze.  I propped  him  up,  and 
Helga  put  the  pannikin  to  his  lips,  but  the  fluid  ran  from  the 
corners  of  his  mouth;  upon  which  I let  him  rest  upon  his  pil- 
lows, softly  begging  the  girl  to  let  God  have  His  way  with  him. 

“ He  can  not  last  through  the  night,”  she  exclaimed,  in  a 
low  voice;  and  the  wonderful  stillness  upon  the  sea,  unvexed 
by  the  delicate  winnowing  of  the  draught,  gathered  to  my  mood 
an  extraordinary  emphasis  from  my  being  able  to  hear  her  light 
utterance^  as  distinctly  as  though  she  whispered  in  a sick-room. 

“You  are  prepared,  Helga?”  said  1. 

“ No,  no!”  she  cried,  with  a little  sob.  “ Who  can  be  pre- 
pared to  lose  one  that  is  dearly  loved?  We  believe  we  are  pre- 
pared— we  pray  for  strength;  but  the  blow  falls  as  though  wo 
were  weak  and  unready.  When  he  is  gone,  I shall  be  alone. 
And  oh,  to  die  here!” 

We  sunk  into  silence. 

Another  hour  went  by,  and  1 believed  1 had  fallen  into  a 
light,  troubled  doze,  less  sleepful  than  a waking  day-dream, 
when  I heard  my  name  pronounced,  and  instantly  started  up. 

“ What  is  it?”  I cried. 

“ My  father  is  asking  for  you,”  answered  Helga. 

I leaned  over  the  cot  and  felt  for  his  hand,  which  1 took. 
It  was  of  a death-like  coldness,  and  moist. 

“ I arn  here.  Captain  Nielsen,”  said  I. 

“ If  God  preserves  you,”  he  exclaimed,  very  faintly,  “ you 
will  keep  your  word?” 


94 


MY  DJlNISH  sweetheart. 


“ Be  sure  of  it — be  sure  of  1 said,  knowing  th»t  h# 

ferred  to  what  had  passed  between  us  about  Helga. 

‘‘  I thank  you,^^  he  whispered.  “ My  sight  seems  dark^  yet 
is  that  not  the  moon  down  there?^^ 

“ Yes,  father, answered  the  girl.^"' 

‘‘Helga,’"  he  said,  “did  you  not  tell  me  you  had  broughf' 
your  mother’s  likeness  with  you?” 

“ It  is  with  us,  and  her  Bible,  father.” 

“ Would  to  God  I could  look  upon  it,”  said  he,  “ for  th/ 
last  time,  Helga,  for  the  last  time!” 

“ Where  is  the  parcel?”  1 asked. 

“ I have  it  close  beside  me,”  she  answered. 

“Open  it,  Helga!”  said  L “The  lamp  will  reveal  ttl 
picture.” 

Again  I lowered  the  bull’s-eye  from  the  masthead,  and/ 
while  Helga  held  the  picture  before  her  father’s  face,  I threw 
the  light  upon  it.  It  was  a little  oil-painting  in  an  oval  giV 
frame.  I could  distinguish  no  more  than  the  face  of  a woman 
—a  young  face — with  a crown  of  yellow  hair  upon  her  head. 
The  sheen  of  the  lamp  lay  faintly  upon  the  profile  of  Helga. 
All  else,  saving  the  picture,  was  in  darkness,  and  the  girl  looked 
like  a vision  upon  the  blackness  past  her,  as  she  knelt  with 
the  portrait  extended  before  her  father’s  face. 

He  addressed  her  in  weak  and  broken  tones  in  Danish,  then 
turned  his  head  and  slightly  raised  his  arm,  as  though  he 
wished  to  point  to  something  up  in  the  sky,  but  was  without 
the  power  of  limb  to  do  so.  On  this  Helga  withdrew  the  por- 
trait, and  I put  down  the  lamp,  first  searching  the  dark  line 
of  ocean,  now  scintellint  with  stars,  before  sitting  again. 

As  the  moon  sunk,  spite  of  her  diffusing  little  or  no  light,  a 
deeper  dye  seemed  to  come  into  the  night.  The  shooting  stars 
were  plentiful,  and  betokened,  as  I might  hope,  continuance 
of  fair  weather.  Here  and  there  hovered  a steam-colored  frag- 
ment of  cloud.  An  aspect  of  almost  summer  serenity  was 
upon  the  countenance  of  the  sky,  and,  though  there  was  the 
weiglit  of  the  ocean  in  the  swing  of  the  swell,  there  was  peace 
too  in  the  regularity  of  its  run  and  in  the  soundless  motion  of 
it  an  it  took  us,  sloping  the  raft  after  the  manner  of  a see-saw. 

In  a boat,  aboard  any  other  contrivance  than  this  raft  -put 
togotlior  by  inexpert  hands,  I must  have  felt  grateful,  deeply 
thankful  to  God  indeed,  for  this  sweet  quietude  of  air  and  sea 
that  followed  the  roaring  conflict  of  the  long  hours  now  passed. 
]>u\  1 was  without  hope,  and  there  can  bo  no  thankfulness  with- 
o!it  that  emotion.  These  were  the  closing  days  of  October; 
November  was  at  hand;  within  an  hour  this  sluggish  breathing 


MY  BANISH  SWBETHEAHT. 


95 


of  air  might  be  storming  up  into  such  another  hurricane  as  we 
were  fresh  from.  And  what  then?  Why,  it  was  impossible  to 
fancy  such  a thing  even,  without  one ^s  spirits  growing  heavy  as 
lead,  without  feeling  the  presence  of  death  in  the  chill  of  the 
night  air. 

No,  for  this  passage  otcalm,  God  forgive  me!  I could  net 
feel  grateful.  The  coward  in  me  rose  strong.  I could  not  bless 
Heaven  for  what  affected  me  as  a brief  pause  before  a dreadful 
end  that  this  very  quiet  of  the  night  was  only  to  render  more 
lingering  and  fuller,  therefore,  of  suffering. 

Captain  Nielsen  began  to  mutter.  I did  not  need  to  listen 
to  him  for  above  a minute  to  gather  that  he  was  delirious.  I 
could  see  the  outline  of  Helga  against  the  stars,  bending  over 
the  cot.  The  thought  of  this  heroic  girl’s  distress,  of  her  com- 
plicated anguish,  rallied  me,  and  I broke  in  a very  passion  of 
self-reproach  from  the  degradation  of  my  dejection.  I drew  to 
the  cot,  and  Helga  said: 

“He  is  wandering  in  his  mind.^^  She  added  with  a note  of 
wailing  in  her  voice,  “ Jeger  me  alene  ! Jeg  er  nu  diene  by 
w^hich  she  signified  that  she  was  now  alone.  I caught  the  mean- 
ing of  the  sentence  from  her  pronunciation  of  it,  and  cried: 

“ Do  not  say  you  are  alone,  Helga!  Besides,  your  father  still 
lives — hark!  what  does  he  say?’^ 

So  far  he  had  been  babbling  in  Danish:  now  he  ?poke  in  En- 
glish, in  a strange  voice  that  sounded  as  though  proceeding 
from  some  one  at  a distance. 

“It  is  so,  you  see.  The  storks  did  not  return  last  spring. 
There  v/as  to  be  trouble — there  was  to  be  trouble!  Ha!  hero 
is  Pastor  Madsen.  Else,  my  beloved  Else!  here  is  the  good 
Pastor  Madsen.  And  there,  too,  is  Eector  Gronlund.  Will 
he  observe  us?  Else,  he  is  deep  in  his  book.  Look!”  he 
cried  a little  shrilly,  pointing  with  a vehemence  that  startled  me 
into  following  the  indication  of  his  shadowy  glimmering  hand 
directed  into  the  darkness  over  the  sea.  “ It  is  Kolding  Latin 
School — nay,  it  is  Rector  Gronlund^s  parsonage  garden.  Ah, 
rector,  you  remember  me?  This  is  the  little  Else  that  your 
good  wife  thought  the  prettiest  child  in  Denmark.  And  this 
is  Pastor  Madsen.” 

He  paused,  then  muttered  in  Danish,  and  fell  silent. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

RESCUED. 

This  is  a thing  easy  to  recall,  but  how  am  I to  convey  the 
reality  of  it?  What  is  there  in  ink  to  put  befoi'e  you  that  wide 


96 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


scene  of  starlit  gloom,  the  dusky  shapes  of  swell  forever  run- 
ning noiselessly  at  ua — no  sounds  saving  the  occasional  creaking 
of  the  raft  as  she  was  swayed— the  motionless,  black  outlines 
of  Helga  and  myselt  overhanging  the  pallid  streak  of  cot— at 
intervals,  alow  sob  breaking  from  the  girFs  heart,  and  the  over- 
whelming sense  of  present  danger,  of  hopelessness,  made 
blacker  yet  by  the  night?  And  amid  all  this  the  crazy  bab- 
bling of  the  dying  Dane,  now  in  English  and  now  in  his  native 
tongue! 

It  was  just  upon  the  stroke  of  one  o^clock  in  the  morning 
when  he  died.  I had  brought  my  watch  to  the  lamp,  when  he 
fetched  a sort  of  groaning  breath,  of  a character  that  caused 
me  to  bend  my  ear  to  his  lips;  and  I found  that  he  had  ceased 
to  breathe.  I continued  to  listen,  and  then,  to  make  sure,  cast 
the  light  of  the  lamp  upon  him. 

‘‘  He  has  gone!^^  cried  Helga. 

“ God  has  taken  him,^^  said  I.  “ Come  to  this  side,  and  sit 
by  me!^^ 

She  did  as  I asked,  and  I took  her  hand.  I knew  by  her 
respiration  that  she  was  weeping,  and  I held  my  peace  till  her 
grief  should  have  had  some  vent.  I then  spoke  of  her  father, 
represented  that  his  ailments  must  in  all  probability  have  carried 
him  off  almost  as  swiftly  ashore;  that  he  had  died  a peace- 
ful death,  with  his  daughter  beside  him,  and  his  wife  and  home 
present  in  a vision  to  his  gaze;  and  said  that,  so  far  from 
grieving,  we  should  count  it  a mercy  that  he  had  been  called 
away  thus  easily,  for  who  was  to  imagine  what  lay  before  us — 
what  sufferings,  which  must  have  killed  him  certainly  later  on? 

“ His  heart  broke  when  his  bark  sunk,^^  said  she.  “ I heard 
it  in  his  cry. 

This  might  very  well  have  been,  too. 

Never  was  there  so  long  a night.  The  moon  was  behind 
tlie  sea,  and  after  she  was  gone  the  very  march  of  the  stars 
iiecmed  arrested,  as  though  nature  had  cried  “Halt!^^  to  the 
universe.  Having  run  the  lamp  aloft,  I resolved  to  leave  it 
there,  possessed  now  with  such  a superstitious  notion  as  might 
well  influence  a shipwrecked  man,  that  if  I lowered  it  again 
no  vessel  would  appear.  Therefore,  to  tell  the  time,  I was 
obliged  to  strike  a match,  and  whenever  I did  this  I would 
stare  at  my  watch  and  put  it  to  my  ear  and  doubt  the  evidence 
of  my  sight,  so  inexpressibly  slow  was  the  passage  of  those 
ijours. 

Uelga^s  sobs  ceased.  She  sat  by  my  side,  speaking  seldom 
after  we  had  exhausted  our  first  talk  on  her  coming  round  to 
where  I was.  1 wished  her  to  sleep,  and  told  her  that  1 could 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


97 


easily  make  a couch  for  her,  and  that  my  oilskin  would  pro- 
tect her  from  the  dew.  I still  held  her  hand  as  I said  this,  and 
I felt  the  shudder  that  ran  through  her  when  she  replied  that 
she  could  not  lie  down,  that  she  could  not  sleep.  Perhaps  she 
feared  I would  disturb  her  father^sbody  to  make  abed  for  her; 
and,  indeed,  there  was  nothing  else  on  the  raft,  saving  the 
poor  fellow’s  cloak  and  his  pillows  and  blankets,  out  of  which  I 
could  have  manufactured  a bed. 

Had  I been  sure  that  he  was  dead,  1 should  have  slipped  the 
body  overboard  while  it  remained  dark,  so  that  Helga  should 
not  have  been  able  to  see  what  1 did;  but  1 had  not  the  cour- 
age to  bury  him  merely  because  I believed  he  was  dead,  be- 
cause he  lay  there  motionless;  and  I was  constantly  thinking 
how  I should  manage  when  the  dawn  came — how  1 was  so  to 
deal  with  the  body  as  to  shock  and  pain  poor  Helga  as  little 
as  possible. 

As  we  sat  side  by  side,  I felt  a small  pressure  of  her  shoulder 
against  my  arm,  and  supposed  that  she  had  fallen  asleep,  but, 
on  my  whispering,  she  immediately  answered.  Dead  tired  1 
knew  the  brave  girl  must  be,  but  sleep  could  not  visit  eyes 
whose  gaze  I might  readily  guess  w^'as  again  and  again  directed 
at  the  faint  pale  figure  of  the  cot. 

The  light  air  shifted  into  the  north-west  at  about  three 
o’clock  in  the  jnorning,  and  blew  a small  breeze  which  extin- 
guished the  star-flakes  that  here  and  there  rode  upon  the  swell, 
and  raised  a noise  of  tinkling,  rippling  waters  along  the  sides 
of  the  raft.  I guessed  this  new  direction  of  the  wind  by  my 
observation  of  a bright  greenish  star  which  had  hung  in  the 
wake  of  the  moon,  and  was  now  low  in  the  west.  This  light 
breeze  kindled  a little  hope  in  me,  and  I would  rise  again  and 
again  to  peer  into  the  quarter  whence  it  blew  in  the  expecta- 
tion of  spying  some  pale  shadow  of  ship.  Once  Helga,  giving 
a start,  exclaimed : 

‘‘  Hush!  I seem  to  hear  the  throb  of  a steamer’s  engines!” 

We  both  stood  up  hand  in  hand,  for  the  sway  of  the  raft 
made  a danger  of  it  as  a platform,  and  I listened  with  strained 
hearing.  It  might  have  been  a steamer,  but  there  was  no 
blotch  of  darkness  upon  the  obscurity  of  the  sea-line  round  to 
denote  her,  nor  any  gleam  of  lantern.  Yet  for  nearly  a quar- 
ter of  an  hour  did  we  listen,  in  a torment  of  attention,  and 
then  resumed  our  seats  side  by  side. 

The  dawn  broke  at  last,  dispelling,  as  it  seemed  to  my  weary, 
despairing  imagination,  along  month  of  perpetual  night.  The 
cold  gray  was  slow  and  stealthy,  and  was  a tedious  time  in 
brightening  into  the  silver  and  rose  of  sunrise.  My  first  act 


98 


MY  DANISH  «wi:t:theart. 


was  to  sweep  the  sea  for  a ship,  and  I then  vvent  to  the  cot  and 
looked  at  the  face  upon  the  pillows  in  it.  If  I had  never  seen 
death  before,  1 might  have  known  it  now.  1 turned  to  the 
girl. 

“ Helga/^  said  1,  gently,  “ you  can  guess  what  my  duty  is 
—for  your  sake,  and  for  mine,  and  for  his  too/’ 

1 looked  earnestly  at  her  as  I spoke:  she  was  deathly  pale, 
haggard,  her  eyes  red  and  inflamed  with  weeping,  and  her  ex- 
pression one  of  exquisite  touching  sorrow  and  mourning.  But 
the  sweetness  of  her  young  counLenance  was  dominant  even  in 
that  supreme  time,  and,  blending  with  the  visible  signs  of  mis- 
ery in  her  looks,  raised  the  mere  prettiin  ssof  her  features  into 
a sad  beauty  that  impressed  me  as  a spiritual  rather  than  as  a 
physical  revelation. 

“ Yes,  I know  what  must  be  done,”  she  answered.  “ Let 
me  kiss  him  first.  ” 

She  approached  the  cot,  knelt  by  it,  and  put  her  lips  to  her 
father’s.  Then  raising  her  clasped  hands  above  her  head,  and 
looking  upward,  she  cried  out — Jeg  erfaderlds!  Giid 
hjelpe  mig 

I stood  apart  waiting,  scarcely  able  to  draw  my  breath  for 
the  pity  and  sorrow  that  tiglitened  my  throat. . It  is  impos- 
sible to  imagine  the  plaintive  wailing  note  her  voice  had  as  she 
uttered  those  Danish  v/ords— “ 1 am  fatherless!  God  help 
me!”  She  then  hid  her  face  in  her  hands,  and  remained 
kneeling  and  praying. 

After  a few  minutes  she  arose,  kissed  again  the  white  face, 
and  seated  herself  with  her  back  to  the  cot. 

No  one  could  have  named  to  me  a more  painful,  a more 
distasteful  piece  of  work  than  the  having  to  handle  the  body 
of  this  poor  Danish  captain,  and  launch  him  into  that  fathom- 
less grave  upon  whose  surface  we  lay.  First  I had  to  remove 
the  ropes  which  formed  our  little  bulwark,  that  I might  slide 
die  cot  overboard;  then  with  some  ends  of  line  1 laced  the  figure 
in  the  cot,  that  it  should  not  float  away  out  of  it  when  launched. 
The  work  kept  me  close  to  the  body,  and,  thin  and  white  as 
he  was,  yet  he  looked  so  life-like,  wore  an  expression  so  remon- 
strant, that  my  horror  was  sensibly  tinctured  with  a feeling  of 
guilt  as  though  instead  of  burying  him  I was  about  to  drown 
him. 

I made  all  dispatch  possible  for  Helga’s  sake,  but  came  to  a 
pause,  when  the  cot  was  ready,  to  look  about  me  for  a sinker. 
There  was  nothing  that  I could  see  but  the  jars,  and,  as  they 
contained  our  little  stock  of  s[)irits  anfl  fresh  water,  they  were 
altogether  too  precious  to  send  to  the  bottom.  I could  do  no 


MY  DAKTSH  STvEETHEART, 


99 


more  than  h pe  that  the  canvas  would  speedily  grow  saturated, 
then  fill  and  sink;  and,  putting  niy  hands  to  the  cot,  I dragged 
it  to  the  edge  of  the  raft,  and  went  round  to  the  head  and 
pushed. 

It  was  midway  over  the  side,  when  a huge  black  rat  sprung 
from  under  the  blankets  out  through  the  lacing,  and  disap- 
peared under  the  hatch-cover.  I had  no  doubt  it  was  the  same 
rat  that  had  leaped  from  my  shoulder  aboard  the  bark.  If  it 
had  terrified  me  then,  you  will  guess  the  shock  it  caused  me 
now!  1 uttered  some  cry  in  the  momentary  consternation 
raised  in  me  by  this  beastly  apparition  of  life  flashing,  so  to 
speak,  out  of  the  very  figure  and  stirlessness  of  death,  and 
Helga  looked  and  called  to  know  what  was  the  matter. 

‘'  Nothing,  nothing, I replied.  “Turn  your  eyes  from 
me,  Helga!'^ 

She  immediately  resumed  her  former  posture,  covering  her 
face  with  her  hands.  The  next  moment  1 had  thrust  the  cot 
fair  into  the  sea,  and  it  slid  off  to  a distance  of  twice  or  thrice 
its  owji  length,  and  lay  rising  and  falling,  to  all  appearances 
buoyant  as  the  raft  itself.  I knew  it  would  sink  so  soon  as 
the  canvas  and  blankets  were  soaked,  yet  that  might  take  a 
little  while  in  doing,  and  dreading  lest  Helga  should  look — for 
you  will  readily  conceive  how  dreadful  would  be  to  the  girl 
that  sight  of  her  father  afloat  in  the  square  of  canvas,  his  face 
showing  clearly  through  the  lacing  of  rope — I went  to  her, 
and  put  my  arm  round  her,  and  so,  but  without  speaking, 
obliged  her  to  keep  her  face  away.  I gathered  from  her  pas- 
siveness that  she  understood  me.  When  1 glanced  again,  the 
cot  was  in  the  act  of  sinking;  in  a few  beats  of  the  heart  it 
vanished,  and  all  was  blank  ocean  to  the  heavens — a prospect 
of  little  flashful  and  feathering  ripples,  but  glorious  as  molten 
and  sparkling  silver  in  the  east  under  the  soaring  sun. 

1 withdrew  my  hand  from  Helga^s  shoulder.  She  then 
looked,  and  sighed  heavily,  but  no  more  tears  flowed.  I believe 
she  had  wept  her  heart  dry! 

“ In  what  words  am  1 to  thank  you  for  your  kindness  and 
sympathy?’^  said  she.  “ My  father  and  my  mother  are  looking 
down  upon  us,  and  they  will  bless  you.^^ 

“ We  must  count  on  being  saved,  Helga, said  I,  forcing 
a cheerful  note  into  my  voice.  “ You  will  see  Kolding  again, 
and  I shall  hope  to  fcb  it  too,  by  your  side.^^  And  with  the  idea 
of  diverting  her  mind  from  her  grief,  I told  her  of  my  promise 
to  her  father,  and  how  happy  it  would  make  me  to  accompany 
her  to  Denmark. 

“I  have  been  too  much  of  a home-bird/^  said  L “You 


100 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


will  provide  me  with  a good  excuse  for  a ramble,  Helga;  but 
first  you  shall  meet  my  dear  old  mother,  and  spend  some  time 
with  us.  1 am  to  save  your  life,  you  know.  I am  here  for 
that  purpose  and  so  I continued  to  talk  to  her,  now  and 
again  coaxing  a light  sorrowful  smile  to  her  lips;  but  it  was 
easy  to  know  where  her  heart  was;  all  the  while  she  was  send- 
ing glances  at  the  sea  close  to  the  raft,  where  she  might  guess 
the  cot  had  sunk,  and  twice  I overheard  her  whisper  to  herself 
that  same  passionate,  grieving  sentences  she  had  uttered  when 
she  kissed  her  father’s  dead  face:  Jeg  er  faderlds  ! Oiid 
hjelpe  mig  /” 

The  morning  stole  away.  Very  soon  after  1 had  buried  the 
captain  I lowered  the  lamp,  and  sent  the  Danish  flag  we  had 
brought  with  us  to  the  head  of  the  little  mast,  where  it  blew 
out  bravely,  and  promised  to  boldly  court  any  passing  eye  that 
might  be  too  distant  to  catch  a sight  of  our  flat  platform  of  a 
raft.  I then  got  breakfast,  and  induced  Helga  to  eat  and 
drink.  Somehow,  whether  it  was  because  of  the  sick  com- 
plaining captain,  with  his  depressing  menace  of  death,  being 
gone,  or  because  of  the  glad  sunshine,  the  high  marbling  of 
the  heavens,  full  of  fine  weather,  and  the  quiet  of  the  sea,  with 
its  placid  heave  of  swell  and  its  twinkling  of  prismatic  ripples, 
my  heart  felt  somewhat  light,  my  burden  of  despondency  was 
easier  to  carry,  was  less  crushing  to  my  spirits.  What  to  hope 
for  1 did  not  know.  1 needed  no  special  wisdom  to  guess  that 
if  we  were  not  speedily  delivered  from  this  raft  we  were  as 
certainly  doomed  as  though  we  had  clung  to  the  bark  and  gone 
down  in  her.  Yet  spite  of  this  there  was  a stirring  of  hope  in 
me.  It  seemed  impossible  but  that  some  ship  must  pass  be- 
fore the  day  was  gone.  How  far  we  had  blown  to  the  south- 
ward and  westward  during  the  gale  I could  not  have  told,  but 
I might  be  sure  we  were  not  very  distant  from  the  mouth 
of  the  English  Channel,  and  therefore  in  the  fair  way  of  vessels 
inward  and  outward  bound,  more  particularly  of  steamers 
heading  for  Portuguese  and  Mediterranean  ports. 

But  hour  after  hour  passed,  and  nothing  hove  into  view. 
The  sun  went  floating  from  his  meridian  into  the  west,  and 
still  the  horizon  remained  a blank,  near,  heaving  line  with  the 
sky  whitening  to  the  ocean  rim.  Again  and  again  Helga  sought 
the  boundary  as  I did.  Side  by  side  we  would  stand,  she 
holding  by  my  arm,  and  together  we  gazed,  slowly  sweeping 
the  deep. 

“It  is  strange!”  she  once  said,  after  a long  and  thirsty 
look.  “ We  are  not  in  the  middle  of  the  ocean.  Not  even 
the  smoke  of  a steamer.” 


MY  BAKISH  SWEETHEART.  101 

Our  horizon  is  narrow/^  answered  I.  “ Does  it  exceed 
three  miles?  1 should  say  hot,  save  when  the  swell  lifts  us, 
and  then,  perhaps,  we  may  see  four.  Pour  miles  of  sea!^^  1 
cried.  “ There  may  be  a dozen  ships  within  three  leagues 
of  us,  all  of  them  easily  within  sight  from  the  maintop  of  the 
‘ Anine  ^ were  she  afloat.  But  what  short  of  a straight  course 
for  the  raft  could  bring  this  speck  of  timber  on  which  we 
stand  into  view?  This  is  the  sort  of  situation  to  make  one  un- 
derstand what  is  signified  by  the  immensity  of  the  ocean. 

She  shivered  and  clasped  her  hands. 

That  I — that  we  — she  exclaimed,  speaking  slowly  and 
almost  under  her  breath — ‘‘  should  have  brought  you  to  this 
pass,  Mr.  Tregarthen!  It  was  our  fate  by  rights — but  it  ought 
not  to  be  yours 

“You  asked  me  to  call  you  Helga,’^  said  I;  “and  you 
must  give  me  my  Christian  name. 

“ What  is  it?^^  she  asked. 

“Hugh.^^ 

“ It  is  a pretty  name.  If  we  are  spared,  it  will  be  sweet 
to  my  memory  while  I have  life!^^ 

She  said  this  with  an  exquisite  artlessness,  with  an  expres- 
sion of  wonderful  sweetness  and  gentleness  in  her  eyes  which 
were  bravely  fastened  upon  me,  and  then,,  suddenly  catching 
up  my  hand,  put  her  lips  to  it  and  pressed  it  to  her  heart, 
letting  it  fall  as  she  turned  her  face  upon  the  water  on  that 
side  of  the  raft  where  her  father^s  body  had  sunk. 

My  spirits,  which  remained  tolerably  buoyant  while  the  sun 
stood  high,  sunk  as  he  declined.  The  prospect  of  another 
long  night  upon  the  raft  and  of  all  that  might  happen  in  a 
night  was  insupportable.  I had  securely  bound  the  planks 
together,  as  1 believed,  but  the  constant  play  of  the  swell  was 
sure  to  tell  after  a time.  One  of  the  ligatures  might  chafe 
through,  and  in  a minute  the  whole  fabric  scatter  under  our 
feet  like  the  staves  of  a stove  boat,  and  leave  us  no  more  than 
a plank  to  hold  on  by  in  the  midst  of  this  great  sea,  which 
all  day  long  had  been  without  ships.  I often  bitterly  deplored 
I had  not  brought  a sail  from  the  bark,  for  the  air  that  hung 
steady  all  day  Mew  landward,  and  there  was  no  weight  in  it 
to  have  carried  away  the  flimsiest  fabric  we  could  have  erected. 
A sail  would  have  given  us  a drift — perhaps  have  put  us  in 
the  way  of  sighting  a vessel,  and  in  any  case  it  would  have 
mitigated  the  intolerable  sense  of  helpless  imprisonment  which 
came  to  one  with  thoughts  of  the  raft  floating  without  an 
inch  of  way  upon  her,  overhanging  all  day  long,  as  it  might 


102 


MY  DANISH  sweetheart. 


have  seemed,  that  very  spot  of  waters  in  which  Ifulga’s  father 
had  found  his  grave. 

Shortly  before  sundown  Ilelga  -:ighted  a ^^ail  in  the  south-west. 
It  was  tlie  merest  shaft  of  pearl  gleaming  above  the  ocean  rim, 
and  visible  to  us  only  when  the  quiet  heave  of  the  s^  :i.  Ihn  w 
us  up.  It  was  no  more  than  a vessel^s  topmost  cjmvas,  and 
before  the  sun  was  gone  the  dim  star-like  sheen  of  those  cloths 
had  faded  out  into  the  atmosphere. 

“ You  must  get  some  rest  to-night,  Helga/^  said  I.  “ Your 
keeping  awake  will  not  save  us  if  we  are  to  be  drowned,  and 
if  we  are  to  be  saved  then  sleep  will  keep  you  in  strength.  It 
is  the  after  consequences  of  this  sort  of  exposure  and  mental 
distress  which  are  to  be  dreaded. 

“ Shall  I be  able  to  sleep  on  this  little  rickety  platform?^^ 
she  exclaimed,  running  her  eyes,  glowing  dark  against  the 
faint  scarlet  in  the  west,  over  the  raft.  ‘‘It  brings  one  so 
dreadfully  near  to  the  surface  of  the  sea.  The  coldness  of 
the  very  grave  itself  seems  to  come  out  of  it.^^ 

“You  talk  like  a girl  now  that  your  are  dressed  as  one, 
Helga.  The  hearty  young  sailor  lad  that  I met  aboard  the 
‘ Anine  ^ would  have  found  nothing  more  than  a raft  and  salt 
water  in  this  business,  and  would  have  ‘ planked  ^ it  here  as 
comfortably  as  in  his  cabin  bunk.^^ 

“ It  did  not  please  you  to  see  me  in  boy^s  clothes,^^  said 
she. 

“ You  made  a very  charming  boy,  Ilelga;  but  I like  you 
best  as  you  are. 

“ No  stranger  should  have  seen  me  dressed  so,^^  she  ex- 
claimed, in  a tone  of  voice  that  made  me  figure  a little  flush  in 
her  cheeks,  though  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen  in  that  way 
by  the  twilight  which  had  drawn  around  us.  “I  did  not  care 
what  the  mates  and  the  crew  thought,  but  I could  not  have 
guessed — she  stammered,  and  went  on — “ when  1 saw  in  the 
bay  what  the  weather  was  likely  to  prove,  1 determined  to 
keep  my  boy^s  dress  on,  more  particularly  after  that  wretched 
man,  Damm,  went  away  with  the  others,  for  then  the  ‘ Anine  ^ 
would  be  very  short-handed  for  what  might  happen,  and  how 
could  I have  been  of  use  in  this  attire.^’^  and  she  took  hold  of 
her  dress  and  looked  down  it. 

“I  have  heard  before, said  I,  “of  girls  doing  sailor^s 
work,  but  not  for  love  of  it.  In  the  old  songs  and  stories 
they  are  represented  as  going  to  sea  chiefly  in  pursuit  of  ab- 
Bconding  sweethearts.^^ 

“ You  thiukmo  unwomanly  for  acting  the  part  of  a sailor?^' 
said  she. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


103 


I think  of  you,  Helga/^  said  1,  taking  her  by  the  hand, 
‘‘  as  a girl  with  the  heart  of  a lioness.  But  if  I once  contrive 
to  land  you  safely  at  Kolding,  you  will  not  go  to  sea  again,  I 
hope?^^ 

She  sighed,  without  replying. 

There  was  nothing  but  her  father^s  cloak  and  my  oilskins 
to  make  a couch  for  her  v/ith.  When  I pressed  her  to  take 
some  rest,  she  entreated  softly  that  I would  allow  her  to  go 
on  talking  and  sitting — that  she  was  sleepless^ — that  it  light- 
ened her  heart  to  talk  with  me — that  there  were  many  hours 
of  darkness  yet  before  us — and  that  before  she  consented  to 
lie  down  we  must  arrange  to  keep  watch,  since  I needed  rest 
too. 

I v/as  willing,  indeed,  to  keep  her  at  my  side  talking.  The 
dread  of  the  loneliness  which  I knew  would  come  off  the  wide, 
dark  sea  into  my  brain  when  she  was  silent  and  asleep,  and 
when  there  would  be  nothing  but  the  stars  and  the  cold  and 
ghastly  gleam  of  the  ebony  breast  on  which  we  lay  to  look  at, 
was  strong  upon  me.  I mastheaded  the  bulTs-eye  lamp,  and 
spread  the  poor  Danish  captain's  cloak,  and  we  seated  our- 
selves upon  it,  and  for  a long  two  hours  we  talked  together,  in 
which  time  she  gave  me  her  life's  history,  and  I chatted  to  her 
about  myself.  I listened  to  her  with  interest  and  admiration. 
Her  voice  was  pure  vrith  a quality  of  plaintive  sweetness  in  it, 
and  now  and  again  she  would  utter  a sentence  in  Danish,  then 
translate  it.  It  might  be  that  the  girlish  nature  1 now  found 
in  her  was  accentuated  to  my  appreciation  by  the  memory  of 
her  boyish  attire,  by  her  appearance  when  on  board  the  bark, 
the  work  she  did  there  and  the  «ort  of  roughness  one  associates 
with  the  trade  of  the  sea,  whether  true  of  the  individual  or 
not;  but,  as  1 thought,  never  had  I been  in  the  company  of 
any  woman  whose  conversation  and  behavior  were  so  engaging, 
with  their  qualities  of  delicacy,  purity,  simplicity,  and  candor, 
as  Helga's. 

It  was  such  another  night  as  had  passed,  saving  that  the  long 
ocean  swell  had  the  softness  of  the  long  hoars  of  fine  weather 
in  its  volume,  whereas  on  the  previous  night  it  still  breathed 
as  in  memory  of  the  fierce  conflict  that  was  over. 

A little  after  midnight  there  was  a red  scar  of  moon  in  the 
west,  and  the  hour  was  a very  dark  one,  spite  of  the  silver 
showering  of  the  plentiful  stars.  I had  made  for  Helga  tbe 
best  sort  of  couch  it  was  in  my  power  to  manufacture,  and  at 
this  time  she  lay  upon  it  sleeping  deeply,  as  I knew  by  the 
regularity  of  her  respiraiiou.  The  sense  of  loneliness  I 
bad  been  upon  mo  since  she  lay  down  and  left  me  tg 


104 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


the  solitary  contemplation  of  our  situation.  A small  wind 
blew  out  of  the  north-west,  and  there  was  much  slopping  noise 
of  waters  under  my  feet  amid  the  crevices  of  the  clumsily 
framed  raft.  I had  promised  Helga  to  call  her  at  three,  but 
without  intending  to  keep  my  word  if  she  slept,  and  I sat  near 
her  head,  her  pale  face  glimmering  out  of  the  darkness  as 
though  spectrally  self-luminous,  and  forever  1 was  turning  my 
eyes  about  the  sea  and  directing  my  gaze  at  the  little  masthead 
lantern  to  know  that  it  was  burning. 

Happening  to  bend  my  gaze  down  upon  the  raft  into  some 
interstice  close  against  where  the  hatch-cover  was  secured,  I 
spied  what,  for  the  moment,  I might  have  supposed  a pair  of 
glow-worms,  minute,  but  defined  enough.  Then  1 believed 
there  was  a little  pool  of  water  there,  and  that  it  refiected  a 
couple  of  stars.  A moment  after  1 guessed  what  it  was,  and 
in  a very  frenzy  of  the  superstition  that  had  been  stirring  in  me, 
and  in  many  directions  of  thought  influencing  me,  from  the 
moment  of  my  leaving  the  bark,  I had  my  hand  upon  the  great 
rat— for  that  was  what  it  was — and  sent  it  flying  overboard.  1 
remember  the  wild  ^squeak  of  the  beast  as  I hurled  it — you  would 
have  supposed  it  the  cry  of  a distant  gull.  There  was  a little 
fire  in  the  svater,  and  1 could  see  where  it  swam,  and  all  very 
quietly  1 seized  hold  of  a loose  plank  and,  waiting  till  it  had 
come  near,  I hit  it,  and  kept  on  hitting  it,  till  I might  be  sure 
it  was  drowned. 

Some  little  noise  I may  have  made:  Helga  spoke  in  her 
sleep,  but  did  not  wake.  You  will  smile  at  my  mentioning 
this  trifling  passage:  you  would  laugh  could  I make  you  un- 
derstand the  emotion  of  relief,  the  sense  of  exultant  happiness 
that  possessed  me  when  I had  drowned  this  rat.  When  I look 
back  and  recall  this  little  detail  of  my  experiences,  I never  doubt 
that  the  overwhelming  spirit  of  the  loneliness  of  that  ocean 
night  lay  upon  me  in  a sort  of  craziness.  I thought  of  the  rat 
as  an  evil  spirit,  a something  horribly  ominous  to  us,  a menace 
of  SLitrcring  and  of  dreadful  death  while  it  stayed  with  us. 
God  knows  why  I should  have  thus  thought;  but  the  imagina- 
tion of  the  ship  wrecked  is  quickly  diseased,  and  the  moods  which 
a man  will  afterward  look  back  upon  with  shame  and  grief  and 
astonishment  are,  while  they  are  present,  to  him  as  fruitful  of 
terrible  imaginings  as  ever  made  the  walls  of  a mad-house 
ring  wilh  maniac  laughter. 

ft  inigiit  have  beim  some  half  hour  after  this — the  silly  ex- 
citement of  lire  incident  having  passed  out  of  my  mind — that 
1 f'‘ll  inlf)  a doze.  Nature  was  well-nigh  exhausted  in  me, 
yob  I did  not  wisli  to  sleep.  In  proportion,  however,  as 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


105 


5^orkings  of  my  brain  were  stealthily  quieted  by  the  slumberous 
feelings  stealing  over  me,  so  the  soothing  influences  without 
operated;  the  cradling  of  the  raft,  the  hushing  and  subduing 
gaze  of  the  stars,  the  soft  whispering  of  the  wind. 

1 was  awakened  by  a rude  shock,  followed  by  a hoarse  bawl- 
ing cry.  There  was  a second  shock  of  a sort  to  smartly  bring 
my  wits  together,  attended  with  several  shouts,  such  as 
“What  is  it?’^  “What  have  ye  run  us  into?’^  “ Why, 
stroike  me  silly,  it  it  ain^t  a raft!""^ 

I sprung  to  my  feet,  and  found  the  bows  of  a little  vessel 
overhanging  us.  Small  as  1 might  know  her  to  be,  she  yet 
loomed  tall  and  black,  and  even  seemed  to  tower  over  us,  so 
low-seated  were  we.  She  lined  her  proportions  against  the 
starry  sky,  and  I made  out  that  she  had  hooked  herself  to  us 
by  running  her  bowsprit  through  the  stays  which  supported 
our  mast. 

My  first  thought  was  for  Helga,  but  she  was  rising  even  as  I 
looked,  and  the  next  moment  was  at  ray  side. 

“ For  God^s  sake,^^  I cried,  “ lower  away  your  sail,  or  your 
stem  will  grind  this  raft  to  pieces!  We  are  two — a girl  and 
a man — shipwrecked  people.  I implore  you  to  help  us  get  on 
board  you!^^ 

A lantern  was  held  over  the  side,  and  the  face  of  the  man 
who  held  it  showed  out  to  the  touch  of  the  luster  like  a pict- 
ure in  a camera  obscura.  The  rays  of  the  lantern  streamed 
fairly  upon  us,  and  the  man  roared  out: 

“ Ay!  it^s  a raft,  Jacob,  and  there  are  two  of  ^em,  and  one 
a gal.  Chuck  the  man  a rope^s-end  and  he^ll  haul  the  raft 
alongside. 

“ Look  out!’^  shouted  another  voice,  from  the  after  part  of 
the  little  vessel,  and  some  coils  of  rope  fell  at  my  feet. 

I instantly  seized'  the  line,  and,  Helga  catching  hold  too, 
we  strained  our  united  weight  at  it,  and  the  raft  swung  along- 
side the  craft  at  the  moment  that  she  lowered  her  sail. 

“ Catch  hold  of  the  lady^s  hands!^^  1 shouted. 

In  a moment  she  was  dragged  over  the  side.  1 handed  up 
the  little  parcel  containing  her  mother’s  picture  and  Bible, 
and  followed  easily,  scrambling  over  the  low  rail. 

The  man  who  gasped  the  lantern  held  it  aloft  to  survey  us, 
and  1 saw  the  dusky  glimmer  of  two  other  faces  past  him. 

“ This  is  a queer  start!”  said  he.  “ How  long  have  you 
been  knocking  about  here?” 

“ You  shall  have  the  yarn  presently,”  said  I;  “ but,  before 
the  raft  goes  adrift,  it’s  well  you  should  know  that  she  is 


lOG 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


pretty  handsomely  stocked  with  provisions  all  worth  bringing 
aboard. 

“ Eight he  cried.  “ Jacob,  take  this  here  lantern  and 
jump  over  the  side,  and  hand  up  what  ye  find.^’ 

All  this  had  happened  too  suddenly  to  suCPer  me  as  yet  to 
be  sensible  of  what  came  little  short  of  a miraculous  deliverance; 
for  had  the  craft  been  a vessel  of  burden,  or  had  there  been 
any  weight  in  the  soft  night  air  still  blowing,  she  would  have 
sheared  through  us  as  we  lay  asleep,  and  scattered  the  raft 
and  drowned  us  out  of  hand — nay,  before  we  could  have  cried 
“ Oh,  God!^'  we  should  have  been  suffocating  in  the  water. 

1 believed  her  at  first  a fishing-boat.  She  was  lugger-rigged 
and  open,  with  a little  forecastle  in  her  bows,  as  I had  noticed 
while  the  lantern  dangled  in  the  hand  of  the  man  who  sur- 
veyed us.  Yet  had  she  been  a line  of  battle  ship  she  could  not, 
as  a refuge  and  means  of  deliverance  after  the  horror  and 
peril  of  that  flat  platform  of  raft,  have  filled  me  with  more 
joy  and  thanksgiving. 

‘‘  The  worst  is  over,  Helga!^^  I cried,  as  1 seized  the  girTs 
cold  and  trembling  hand.  “ Here  is  a brave  little  vessel  to 
carry  us  home,  and  you  will  see  Kolding  again,  after  all!^^ 

She  made  some  answer,  which  her  emotion  rendered  scarcely 
intelligible.  Her  being  suddenly  awakened  by  the  shock  of 
the  collision,  her  alarm  on  seeing  what  might  have  passed  in 
the  gloom  as  a tall  black  mass  of  bow  crushing  into  the  raft, 
then  the  swiftness  of  our  entry  into  the  lugger,  and  the  sensa- 
tions which  would  follow  on  her  perception  of  our  escape  from 
a terrible  death — all  this,  combined  with  what  she  had  gone 
through,  was  too  much  for  the  brave  little  creature;  she  could 
scarcely  whisper;  and,  as  I have  said,  her  hand  was  cold  as 
frost,  and  trembled  like  an  aged  person’s  as  1 gently  brought 
her  to  one  of  the  thwarts. 

By  this  time  I had  made  out  that  the  boat  carried  only  three 
of  a crew.  One  of  them,  holding  the  lantern,  had  sprung  on  to 
the  raft,  and  was  busy  in  handing  up  to  the  others  whatever  he 
could  lay  his  hands  upon.  They  did  not  spend  many  min- 
utes over  this  business.  Indeed,  I was  astoiiished  by  their  dis- 
patch. The  fellow  on  the  raft  worked  like  one  who  was  very 
used  to  rummaging,  and,  as  I knew  afterward  by  observing 
what  he  had  taken,  it  was  certain  not  a single  crevice  escaped 
him. 

“That’s  all,”  I heard  him  shout.  “ There’s  naught  left 
that  I can  find,  unless  so  be  as  the  parties  have  snugged  any 
valuables  away.” 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEABT. 


101 

1 cried,  ‘‘there  are  no  valuables,  no  money — 
nothing  but  food  and  drink/^ 

“ Come  aboard,  Jacob,  arter  ye^ve  chucked  up  what^s  loose 
for  fire-wood/^ 

Presently  the  lantern  flashed  as  it  was  passed  across  the  rail, 
and  the  figure  of  the  man  followed. 

“ Shove  her  clear!^^  was  bawled,  and  shortly  afterward, 
“Up  foresail!’^ 

The  dark  square  of  sail  mounted,  and  one  of  the  men  came 
aft  to  the  helm.  Nothing  was  said  until  the  sheet  had  been 
hauled  aft,  and  the  little  craft  was  softly  rippling  along  over  the 
smooth  folds  of  the  swell,  communicating  a sensation  so  buoy- 
ant, so  vital  after  the  flat,  mechanical  swaying  and  slanting  of 
the  inert  raft,  that  the  mere  feeling  of  it  to  me  was  as  potent 
in  virtue  as  some  life-giving  dram. 

The  other  two  men  came  out  of  the  bows  and  seated  them- 
selves, placing  the  lighted  lantern  in  the  midst  of  us,  and  so 
we  sat  staring  at  one  another. 

“ Men,^^  said  I,  “ you  have  rescued  us  from  a horrible  sit- 
uation. I thank  you  for  my  life,  and  I thank  you  for  this 
lady^s  life.^^ 

“ How  long  have  ye  been  washing  about,  sir?^^  said  the 
man  at  the  hdm. 

“ Since  Monday  night,  said  L 

“ A bad  jobr^  said  he;  “ but  youTl  have  had  it  foine  since 
Monday  night.  Any  one  perish  aboard  your  raft?’^ 

“ One/’  I answered,  quickly.  “ And  now  1^11  tell  you  my 
story.  But  first,  I must  ask  for  a drop  of  spirits  out  of  one  of 
those  jars  you^ve  transshipped.  A sudden  change  of  this  sort 
tries  a man  to  the  soul. 

“ Ay,  you^re  right, growled  one  of  the  others.  “ I know 
w^hat  it  is  to  be  plucked  by  the  hair  o^  the  head  out  of  the 
hopen  jaws  of  death,  and  the  sort  of  feelings  what  comes  arter 
the  plucking  job’s  o’er.  Which’Il  be  the  particler  jar,  sir?” 

“ Any  one  of  them,”  said  1. 

He  explored  with  the  lantern,  found  a little  jar  of  brandy, 
and  the  glass,  or  rather  I should  say  the  pannikin,  went 
round.  1 coaxed  Helga  into  taking  a sup;  yet  she  continued 
silent  at  my  side,  as  one  still  dazed  and  incapable  of  master- 
ing what  had  happened.  Indeed,  with  her  woman’s  apparel, 
you  might  have  believed  that  she  had  reequipped  herself  with 
her  woman’s  nature. 


i08  ilY  DANISH  SWEETHEAKT* 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  ‘‘EAKLY  MOKN/^ 

I TOLD  my  story,  and  the  three  fellows  listened  attentively- 
Their  eyes  glowed  in  the  lamp-light  as  they  stared  at  me- 
The  weak  wind  raised  a pleasant  buzzing  noise  at  the  cutwater^ 
and  the  lugger  stole  in  floating  launches  through  the  gloom 
over  the  long  invisible  heave  of  the  Atlantic  swell. 

“ Ah!^^  said  the  helmsman,  when  1 had  made  an  end,  “ we 
heerd  of  that  there  Tintrenale  life-boat  job  when  we  was  at 
Penzance.  An^  so  you  was  her  cocks  wain 

“Were  the  people  of  the  boat  drowned?^’  cried  I,  eagerly. 
“ Can  you  give  me  any  news  of  them?^^ 

“ Xo,  sir,^^  he  answered;  “ there  was  no  particulars  to  hand 
when  we  sailed.  All  that  we  larnt  was  that  a life-boat  had 
been  stove  alongside  a vessel  in  Tintrenale  Bay;  and  little 
wonder,  tew,  says  I to  my  mates  when  I heerd  it.  Never  re- 
member the  like  of  such  a night  as  that  there. 

“ What  was  the  name  of  the  Dane  again  said  one  of  the 
fellows  seated  opposite  me,  as  he  lighted  a short  clay  pipe  by 
the  flame  of  a match  that  he  dexterously  shielded  from  the 
wind  in  his  hand  as  though  his  fist  were  a lantern. 

“ The  ‘ Anine,^  I answered. 

“A  bit  of  a black  bark,  warnT  she?^^  he  continued. 
“ Capt’n  with  small  eyes  and  a beard  like  a goat!  Why, 
yes!  it^Jl  be  that  there  bark.  Tommy,  that  slipped  two  year 
ago.  Pigsears  Hall  and  Stickenup  Adams  and  me  had  a nice 
little  job  along  with  her.^^ 

“ You  are  quite  right,^'  said  Helga,  in  a low  voice;  “ I was 
on  board  the  vessel  at  the  time.  The  captain  was  my  father. 

“ Oh,  indeed,  mum!^^  said  the  fellow  who  steered.  “ An* 
he’s  gone  dead!  Poor  old  gentleman!” 

“What  is  this  boat.^”  said  I,  desiring  to  cut  this  sort  of 
sympathy  short. 

“ The  ‘ Airly  Marn,*  ” answered  the  helmsman. 

“ The  ‘ Early  Morn!’  And  from  what  part  of  the  coast, 
pray?” 

“ Why,  ye  might  see,  I think,  sir,  that  she  hails  from  Deal,” 
he  answered.  “ There’s  nothen  resembling  the  likes  of  her 
coming  from  elsewhere  that  I knows  of.” 

“ And  what  are  you  doing  down  in  this  part  of  the  ocean?” 

“ Why,”  said  he,  after  spitting  over  the  stern  and  passing 
his  hand  along  his  mouth,  “ we’re  a-going  to  Australey.” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


109 


“ Going  where?^^  I cried,  believing  I had  not  correctly  heard 
him,  while  Helga  started  from  her  drooping  posture  and 
turned  to  look  at  me. 

“ To  Sydney,  New  South  Wales,  which  is  in  Australey,^^  he 
exclaimed. 

“ In  this  small  open  boat?^^ 

“ This  small  open  boat!’^  echoed  one  of  the  others.  “ The 
^ Airly  Marn^s  ^ eighteen  ton,  and  if  she  be’nt  big  enough  and 
good  enough  to  carry  three  men  to  Australey  there^s  nothen 
afloat  as  is  going  to  show  her  how  to  do  it!^^ 

By  the  light  shed  by  the  dimly  burning  lantern,  where  it 
stood  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  I endeavored  to  gather  from 
their  faces  whether  they  spoke  seriously,  or  whether,  indeed, 
they  were  under  the  influence  of  earlier  drams  of  liquor  than 
the  dose  they  had  swallowed  from  our  jar. 

“ Are  you  in  earnest,  men?^^  said  I. 

‘‘  Airnest!^^  cried  the  man  at  the  tiller,  in  a voice  of  aston- 
ishment, as  though  he  wondered  at  my  wonder.  “ Wh}^  to  be 
sure  we  are!  What^s  wrong  with  us  that  we  shouldnH  be 
a«going  to  Australey 

I glanced  at  the  short  length  of  dark  fabric,  and  up  at  the 
black  square  of  lugsail. 

“ What  is  taking  you  to  Australia  in  a Deal  lugger?’^  said  I. 

The  man  styled  Abraham  by  his  mates,  answered:  “ We^re 
a-carrying  this  here  craft  out  on  a job  for  the  gent  that^s 
bought  her.  There  was  three  of  us  an^  a boy,  but  the  boy 
took  sick  at  Penzance,  and  we  came  away  without  him.^^ 

He  paused.  The  man  sitting  next  him  continued  in  a deep 
voice: 

“ A gent  as  lives  in  Lunnon  took  this  here  ‘ Airly  Marn  ^ 
over  for  a debt.  Well,  when  he  got  her  he  didn^t  know  what 
to  do  with  her.  There  was  no  good  a-leaving  her  to  pine  away 
on  the  beach,  so  he  tarns  to  and  puts  her  up  to  auction.  Well, 
there  was  ne^er  a bid.^^ 

Ne^er  a bid!^^  echoed  the  man  who  was  steering. 

“ Ne’er  a bid,  I says,”  continued  the  other,  “ and  whoy? 
First  of  all,  there  ain’t  no  money  in  Deal;  and  next,  the  days 
of  these  luggers  is  numbered.  Well,  this  here  gent  was  called 
upon  by  an  Australian  friend  who,  gitting  to  hear  of  the  ‘ Airly 
Marn,’  says  he’s  a-willing  to  buy  her  for  a sum.  What  that 
sum  might  be  I’m  not  here  for  to  know.” 

“ Fifty  pounds,  I allow,”  said  the  man  named  Tommy. 

Some  says  she  was  guv  away.  I’ve  heerd  speak  of  thirty 
pound.  But  fifty’s  what  I call  it.” 

“ Call  it  fifty,”  exclaimed  the  fellow  who  steered. 


110 


MY  DANISU  SWEETirEART. 


continued  the  first  speaker,  whose  voice  was  pe- 
culitirly  harsh,  “ this  here  ^ent  having  purchased  the  ‘ Airly 
Mani,^  c juies  down  to  Deal,  and  gives  out  that  he  wants  some 
men  to  carry  her  to  Sydney.  The  matter  was  turned  over. 
How  much  would  he  give.^  Well,  he’d  give  two  hundred  and 
fifty  pound,  and  them  as  undertook  the  job  might  make  what 
shares  they  chose  of  the  money.  I was  for  making  six  shares. 
Abraham  there  says  no,  fower’s  enough.  Tommy  says  three 
an’  a boy.  That’s  seventy-five  pound  a man  and  twenty-five 
pound  for  the  boy;  but  the  boy  being  took  sick,  his  share  be- 
comes our’n.” 

“ And  you  think  seventy-five  pounds  a piece  pay  enough  for 
as  risky  an  undertaking  as  was  ever  heard  of?'^  cried  I. 

“Wish  it  were  already  aimed,”  said  Abraham.  ‘‘Pay 
enough?  Oy,  and  good  monney,  tew,  in  such  times  as  these.” 

“ How  far  are  we  from  the  English  coast?”  asked  Helga. 

The  man  called  Jacob,  after  a little  silence,  answered: 
“ Why,  I dare  say  the  Land’s  End  T1  be  about  a hundred  an’ 
eighty  mile  o2.” 

“ It  would  not  take  long  to  return,”  she  exclaimed.  “ Will 
you  not  land  us?” 

“ What,  on  the  English  coast,  mum?”  he  cried. 

I saw  him  peering  earnestly  at  us  as  though  he  would  gather 
our  condition  by  our  attire. 

“It’s  a long  way  back,”  continued  he:  “ and  supposing 
the  wind,”  he  added,  looking  up  at  the  sky,  “ should  head 
us?” 

“If  the  gent  would  make  it  worth  us  men’s  while” — 
broke  in  Tommy. 

“ No!  no!”  exclaimed  Abraham,  “ we  don’t  want  to  make 
nothen  out  of  a fellow-creature’s  distress.  We’ve  saved  ye,  and 
that’s  a good  job.  Next  thing  we’ve  got  to  do  is  to  put  ye 
aboard  the  first  homeward  bound  vessel  we  falls  in  with.  I’m 
f >r  keeping  all  on.  Ships  is  plentiful  hereabout,  and  ye’ll  not 
be  kept  waiting.  But  to  up  helium  for  the  English  coast 
again — ” I saw  his  head  wag  vehemently  against  the  stars. 
“ It’s  a long  way  to  Australey,  master,  and  ne’er  a man  of  us 
touches  a penny  piece  till  we  gits  there.” 

I sat  considering  a little.  My  immediate  impulse  was  to 
offer  the  fellows  a reward  to  land  us.  Then  I thought,  no! 
They  may  ask  too  much,  and,  indeed,  whatever  they  might 
expect  must  jn’ovo  too  much  for  me,  to  whom  five  pounds 'was 
a considerabh)  tmm,  though,  as  1 have  told  you,  my  mother’s 
Blonder  income  was  cm>iigh  for  us  both.  Ib- the  money 
these  men  might  ask  would  be  far  moro  fitly  devoted  to  Helga, 


MY  DANISH  SWEEliiEiAET. 


Ill 


who  had  lost  all  save  what  she  stood  in^  who  was  without  a 
frieud  in  England  except  myself  and  mother,  who  had  been 
left  by  her  father  without  a farthing  saving  some  pitiful  sum 
of  insurance  money,  which  she  would  not  get  for  many  a long 
day,  and  who,  brave  heart!  would,  therefore,  need  my  mother's 
purse  to  refurnish  her  wardrobe  and  embark  her  for  her  Dan- 
ish home,  if,  indeed,  there  would  now  be  a home  for  her  at  Kold- 
ing. 

These  considerations  passed  with  the  velocity  of  thought 
through  my  mind.  On  the  other  hand,  we  were  no  longer 
aboard  a stationary  raft,  but  in  a nimble  little  lugger  that 
every  hour  was  carrying  us  into  a new  prospect  of  ocean;  and 
we  might  be  sure,  therefore,  of  speedily  falling  in  with  a home- 
ward-bound steamer  that  would  convey  us  to  England  in  a 
tenth  of  the  time  the  lugger  would  occupy,  very  much  more 
comfortably,  too,  and  at  the  cost  of  a few  shillings,  so  to  speak. 
Then,  again,  I felt  too  grateful  for  our  preservation,  too  glad 
and  rejoiceful  over  our  deliverance  from  the  dreadful  future 
that  had  just  now  lain  before  us  to  remonstrate  with  the  men, 
to  oppose  their  wishes  to  pursue  their  course,  to  utter  a word, 
in  short,  that  might  make  them  suppose  1 did  not  consider  our 
mere  escape  from  the  raft  good  fortune  enough. 

“ Surely  it  would  not  take  them  very  long,''  Helga  whis- 
pered in  my  ear,  “ to  sail  this  boat  back  to  Penzance?" 

1 repeated,  in  a voice  inaudible  to  the  others,  the  reflections 
which  had  occurred  to  me. 

“ Why,  see  there  now!"  bawled  one  of  the  boatmen,  point- 
ing with  a shadowy  hand  into  the  dusk  over  the  lee  quarter. 
“ There's  plenty  of  the  likes  to  fall  in  with;  only  she's  a-going 
the  wrong  way." 

1 peered,  and  spied  the  green  side  and  white  masthead  lan- 
terns of  a steamer  propelling  along  the  v/ater  at  about'a  quarter 
of  a mile  distant.  I could  faintly  distinguish  Ihe  loom  of  her 
black  length,  like  a smear  of  ink  upon  the  obscurity,  and  the 
line  of  her  smoke  against  the  stars,  vdth  now  and  again  a little 
leap  of  furnace  light  at  the  funnel-mouth  that,  while  it  hung 
there,  might  have  passed  for  the  blood-red  visage  of  the  moon 
staring  out  of  a stormy  sky. 

“ See,  Helga!"  I cried;  “ there  are  many  like  her,  as  this 
man  says.  In  a few  hours,  please  God,  we  may  be  safe  aboard 
such  another!"  And  I sunk  my  voice  to  add : “ We  can  not  do 
better  than  wait.  Our  friends  here  will  be  glad  to  get  rid  of 
us.  No  fear  of  their  detaining  us  a moment  longer  than  can 
be  helped. " 


112 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAET. 


“ Yes,  you  are  right/^  she  answered;  “ but  I wish  to  quickly 
return  for  your  sake — for  your  mother^s  sake,  Hugh/^ 

Her  soft  utterance  of  my  name  fell  pleasantly  upon  my  ear. 
I felt  for  her  hand  and  pressed  it,  and  whispered:  “ A little 
patience,  and  we  shall  find  ourselves  at  home  again.  All  is 
well  with  us  now.^^ 

The  lights  to  leeward  silently  glided  ahead,  and  turned  black 
upon  the  bow.  One  of  the  boatmen  yawned  with  the  roar  of 
an  animal. 

“ Nothen  to  keep  me  out  of  my  bunk  now,  1 allow, said 
he.  ‘‘  No  more  rafts  to  run  into,  I hope.^^ 

“ I should  like  to  get  this  lady  under  shelter,^^  said  I. 

“ That^s  easily  done! exclaimed  Abraham.  ‘‘There’s  a 
nice  little  fore-peak,  and  a bunk  in  it  at  her  sarvice.” 

Helga  hastily  exclaimed  that  she  had  had  rest  enough.  I 
perceived  that  the  delicacy  of  our  Deal  friends  did  not  go  to 
the  length  of  observing  that  while  Helga  occupied  the  fore-peak 
it  must  be  hers,  and  hers  only;  but  the  discussion  of  that  point 
was  out  of  the  question  now;  so  she  stayed  where  she  was,  the 
boatman  that  had  yawned  went  forward,  and  in  a few  minutes 
his  snoring  came  along  in  a sound  like  the  grating  of  a boat’s 
keel  over  the  shingle  of  his  native  town. 

These  darkest  hours  of  the  night  slowly  passed.  The  breeze 
blew,  the  keen  stem  of  the  lugger  ripped  through  the  quiet 
hea^e  of  the  ocean,  and  I waited  for  the  dawn,  never  doubting 
that.  Helga  and  I would  be  out  of  the  boat  and  aboard  some 
homeward-bounder  ere  we  should  have  counted  another  half- 
score hours.  The  homely  chat  of  the  two  men,  the  queer  ’long- 
shore phrases,  the  rough  sympathy  they  sought  to  convey  by 
tlieir  speech,  were  delightful  to  listen  to.  Such  had  been  my 
experiences  that,  though  five  days  comprised  them,  it  seemed 
as  if  I had  been  six  months  from  home.  The  talk  mainly 
concerned  this  daring,  extraordinary  voyage  to  Australia  in 
what  was  truly  no  more  than  an  open  boat.  The  excitement 
of  delight  over  our  rescue  was  in  a measure  spent.  I could 
think  calmly,  and  attend  with  interest  to  other  considerations 
than  our  preservation,  our  sufferings,  and,  in  short,  ourselves. 
And  what  could  interest  me  more  than  this  singular  undertak- 
ing on  the  part  of  three  boatmen? 

1 inquired  what  food  they  carried. 

“ Whoy,”  says  Abraham,  “ we’ve  got  beef  an’  pork  and 
ship’s  bread  and  other  wittles  arter  that  sort.” 

“ Snail  you  touch  any  ports?” 

“ Oy,  if  tlie  need  arises,  master.” 


UY  DANISH  SWEETHEAET.  113 

Need  arises!  You  are  bound  to  run  short  of  food  and 
water 

“ There^s  a-plenty  of  ships  to  fall  in  with  at  sea,  master, 
to  help  us  along/^ 

‘‘  How  long  do  you  reckon  on  taking  to  make  the  run?^^ 

“ Fewer  or  foive  month,^’  answered  Abraham. 

‘‘  Oy,  an^  perhaps  six,^^  said  Jacob. 

‘‘  Who  is  skipper said  L 

“ There  aren^t  no  degrees  here,^^  answered  Abraham; 
“ leastways,  now  that  the  boy^s  gone  sick  and^s  left  behoind.-^^ 

“ But  which  of  you  is  navigator,  then?^^ 

“ Oy  am,^^  said  Abraham — “ that^s  to  say,  Tve  got  a 
quadrant  along  with  me,  and  know  how  to  tell  at  noon  what 
o^clock  it  is.  That^s  what^s  tarmed  hascertaining  the  latitude. 
As  to  what^s  called  longitude,  she^s  best  left  to  the  log-line. 

So  she  is,^^  said  Jacob. 

“ And  you  have  no  doubt  of  accurately  striking  the  port  of 
Sydney  without  troubling  yourselves  about  your  longitude?^^ 

“ Ne^er  a doubt,  said  Abraham. 

“ Or  if  so  be  as  a doubt  should  come  up,  then  heave  the 
log,  says  1/^  broke  in  Jacob. 

Their  manner  of  speaking  warned  me  to  conceal  my  amaze- 
ment that  under  other  conditions  could  not  have  been  without 
merriment.  They  told  me  they  had  left  Pezance  on  the  morn- 
ing of  Monday,  while  it  was  still  blowing  heavily.  ‘‘  But  we 
saw  that  the  breeze,^^  Abraham  said,  “ was  a-going  to  fail,  and 
so  there  was  no  call  to  stop  for  the  wedder;^’  yet  they  had 
hardly  run  the  land  out  of  sight  when  they  sprung  their  mast 
in  the  jump  of  a very  hollow  sea.  ‘‘  There  was  no  use  trying 
to  ratch  back  ag’in  that  sea  andbreeze,^^  said  Abraham;  “ so 
we  stepped  our  spare  mast  and  laid  the  wounded  chap  in  his 
place;  but  if  the  wedder  be  as  bad  off  the  Cape  as  I^^e  heerd 
talk  of,  1 allow  we^ll  be  needing  a rig-out  o^  spars  if  we^re  to 
reach  Australey;  and  what^ll  have  to  be  done  T1  be  to  fall  in 
with  some  wessel  as  T1  oblige  us.^^ 

Considering  they  were  seafaring  men,  this  prodigious  con- 
fidence in  luck  and  chance  was  not  less  wonderful  than  the  vent- 
ure they  were  upon.  But  it  was  for  me  to  question  and  listen, 
not  to  criticise. 

They  will  never  reach  Australia,  Helga  whispered. 

‘‘  They  are  English  seamen, said  I,  softly. 

“ No,  Hugh — boatmen,^^  says  she,  giving  me  my  name  as 
easily,  as  though  we  had  been  brother  and  sister.  “ And  what 
will  they  do  without  longitude?’^ 

“ Grope  their  way,  1 whispered,  after  the  manner  of  the 


114 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


early  mariners  who  achieved  everything  in  the  shape  of  sea- 
manship and  discovery  in  ‘ barkes/  as  they  called  them,  com- 
pared to  which  this  lugger  is  as  a thousand-ton  ship  to  a Graves- 
end wherry/’ 

The  two  boatmen  were  holding  a small  hoarse  argument 
touching  the  superiority  of  certain  galley-punts  belonging  to 
Deal  when  the  dawn  broke  along  the  port-beam  of  the  lugger. 
The  sea  turned  an  ashen  green,  and  throbbed  darkening  to  the 
gray  wall  of  eastern  sky,  against  which  it  washed  in  a line  of 
inky  blackness.  I sprung  on  to  a thwart  to  look  ahead  on  either 
bow,  and  Helga  stood  up  beside  me;  and,  as  upon  the  bark, 
and  as  upon  the  raft,  so  now  we  stood  together  sweeping  the 
iron-gray  sky  and  the  dark  line  of  horizon  for  any  flaw  that 
might  denote  a vessel.  But  the  sea  stretched  bald  to  its  re- 
cesses the  compass  round. 

The  heavens  in  the  east  brightened  and  the  sea-line  changed 
into  a steely  whiteness,  but  this  delicate  distant  horizontal 
gleam  of  water  before  sunrise  gave  us  sight  of  nothing. 

‘‘  Anything  to  be  seen,  sir?”  cried  Abraham. 

‘‘  Nothing,”  I answered,  dismounting  from  the  thwart. 

“ Well,  there’s  all  day  afore  ye,”  said  Jacob,  who  had  taken 
the  helm. 

Now  that  daylight  was  come  my  first  look  was  at  Helga,  to 
see  how  she  had  borne  the  bitter  time  that  was  passed.  Her 
eyelids  were  heavy,  her  cheeks  of  a death-like  whiteness,  her  lips 

Eale,  and  in  the  tender  hollow  under  each  eye  lay  a greenish 
ue,  resembling  the  shadow  a spring  leaf  might  fling.  It  was 
clear  that  she  had  been  secretly  weeping  from  time  to  time 
during  the  dark  hours.  She  smiled  when  our  eyes  met,  and 
her  face  was  instantly  sweetened  by  the  expression  into  the 
gentle  prettiness  I had  first  found  in  her. 

1 next  took  a survey  of  my  new  companions.  The  man 
styled  Abraham  was  a sailorly  looking  fellow,  corresponding 
but  inditlerently  with  one’s  imagination  of  the  conventional 
Tongshoreman.  He  had  sharp  features,  a keen,  iron-gray, 
seawardly  eye,  and  a bunch  of  reddish  beard  stood  forth  from 
his  chin.  He  was  dressed  in  pilot  cloth,  wore  ear-rings,  and 
his  head  was  incased  in  a sugar-loafed  felt  hat  built  after  the 
fashion  of  a theatrical  bandit’s. 

Jacob,  on  the  other  hand,  was  the  most  faithful  copy  of  a 
Deal  boatman  that  could  have  been  met  afloat.  His  face  was 
flat  and  broad,  with  a skin  stained  in  places  of  a brick  red. 
He  had  little,  merry,  but  ralh(‘r  dim  blue  eyes,  and  suggested 
a man  who  would  be  able,  without  great  effort  of  memory, 
to  tell  you  how  many  public-houses  there  were  in  Deal,  tak- 


MY  Di.NISH  SWEETHEART. 


115 


ing  them  all  round.  He  had  the  whitest  teeth  I had  ever  seen 
in  a sailor,  and  the  glance  of  them  through  his  lips  seemed 
to  tix  an  air  of  smiling  upon  his  face.  His  attire  consisted  of 
a fur  cap,  forced  so  low  down  upon  the  head  that  it  obliged 
his  ears  to  stand  out;  a yellow  oilskin  jumper  and  a pair  of 
stout  fearnaught  trousers,  the  ends  of  which  were  packed  into 
half  Wellington  boots. 

The  third  man,  named  Thomas  or  Tommy,  still  continued 
out  of  sight  in  the  fore-peak.  One  will  often  see  at  a glance 
as  much  as  might  occupy  some  pages  to  even  briefly  describe. 
In  a few  turns  of  the  eye  I had  taken  in  these  two  men  and 
their  little  ship.  The  boat  seemed  to  be  a very  fine  specimen 
of  the  Deal  lugger.  Her  fore-peak  consisted  of  a forecastle, 
the  deck  of  which  was  carried  in  the  shape  of  a platform  sev- 
eral feet  abaft  the  bulkhead,  which  limited  the  sleeping  com- 
partment, and  under  this  pent-house  or  break  were  stored  the 
anchors,  cables,  and  other  gear  belonging  to  the  little  vessel. 
In  the  middle  of  the  boat,  made  fast  by  chains,  was  a stove, 
with  a bos  under  the  “ raft,^^  as  the  forecastle-deck  is  called, 
in  which  were  kept  the  cooking  utensils.  1 noticed  fresh  water- 
casks  stowed  in  the  boat^s  bilge,  and  a harness-cask  for  the  meat 
near  the  fore-peak.  Eight  amidships  lay  a little  fat  punt, 
measuring  about  fourteen  feet  long,  and  along  the  sides  of  the 
thwarts  were  three  sweeps  or  long  oars,  the  fore-mast  that  had 
been  “ sprung/^  and  a bare  bowsprit.  This  equipment  I took 
in  with  the  swift  eye  of  a man  who  was  at  heart  a boatman. 

A:  noble  boat  indeed  for  channel  cruising,  for  the  short 
ragged  seas  of  our  narrow  waters,  But  for  the  voyage  to 
Australia!  I could  only  stare  and  wonder. 

The  big  lugsail  was  doing  its  work  handsomely;  the  breeze 
was  out  on  the  starboard  quarter,  a pleasant  wind,  but  with  a 
hardness  in  the  face  of  the  sky  to  windward,  a rigidity  of  small 
compacted  high-hanging  cloud  with  breaks  of  blue  between, 
showing  of  a wintery  keenness  when  the  sun  soared,  that  prom- 
ised a freshening  wind  before  noon.  Under  the  steadfast  drag 
of  her  lug  the  light,  bright-sided  boat  was  buzzing  through  it 
merrily,  with  a spitting  of  foam  oS  either  bow,  and  a streak 
on  either  side  of  wool-white  water  creaming  into  her  wake  that 
streamed  rising  and  falling  far  astern. 

Had  her  head  been  pointing  the  other  way  with  a promise  of 
the  dusky  gray  of  the  Cornish  coast  to  loom  presently  upon  ' 
the  sea-line,  I should  have  found  something  delightful  in  the 
free,  floating  airy  motion  of  the  lugger  sweeping  over  the  quiet 
hills  of  swells,  her  weather-side  caressed  by  the  heads  of  the 
little  seas  crisply  running  along  with  her  in  a sportive  racing 


116 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


way.  But  the  desolation  of  the  ocean  lay  as  an  oppression 
upon  my  spirits.  I counted  upon  the  day-break  revealing 
several  sail,  and  here  and  there  the  blue  streak  of  a steamer’s 
smoke,  but  there  was  nothing  of  the  sort  to  be  seen,  while  every 
hour  of  such  nimble  progress  as  the  lugger  was  now  making 
must,  to  a degree,  diminish  our  chances  of  falling  in  with 
homeward-bound  craft;  that  is  to  say,  we  were  sure,  sooner  or 
later,  to  meet  with  a ship  going  to  England;  but  the  further 
south  we  went  the  longer  would  be  the  intervals  between  the 
showing  of  ships  by  reason  of  the  navigation  scattering  as  it 
opened  out  into  the  North  Atlantic;  and  so,  though  I never 
doubted  that  we  should  be  taken  off  the  lugger  and  carried 
home,  yet  as  I looked  around  this  vacant  sea  1 was  depressed 
by  the  fear  that  some  time  might  pass  before  this  would  hap- 
pen, aj>d  my  thoughts  went  to  my  mother — how  she  might  be 
supposing  me  dead,  and  mourning  over  me  as  lost  to  her  for- 
ever, and  how,  if  I could  quickly  return  to  her,  I should  be  able 
to  end  her  heartache  and  perhaps  preserve  her  life;  for  I was 
her  only  child,  and  that  she  would  fret  over  me  even  to  the 
breaking  of  her  heart,  I feared,  despite  her  having  sanctioned 
my  going  out  to  save  life. 

Yet  when  1 looked  at  Helga  and  reflected  upon  what  her 
Bufferings  had  been  and  what  her  loss  was,  and  noted  the  spirit 
that  still  shone  nobly  in  her  steadfast  gaze  and  was  expressed 
in  the  lines  of  her  lips,  I felt  that  I was  acting  my  part  as  a 
man  but  poorly  in  suffering  my  spirits  to  droop.  This  time 
yesterday  we  were  upon  a raft  from  which  the  first  rise  of  sea 
must  have  swept  us.  It  was  the  hard  stare  of  the  north-westerly 
sky  that  caused  me  to  think  of  this  time  yesterday,  and  with 
something  of  a shiver  and  a long  deep  breath  of  gratitude  for 
tlie  safety  that  had  come  to  us  with  this  little  fabric  buoyant 
under  our  feet.  I broke  away  from  my  mood  of  dullness  with 
a half  smile  at  the  two  homely  boatmen  who  sat  staring  at 
Ilelga  and  at  me. 

‘‘  The  lady  looks  but  porely,’^  said  Abraham,  with  his  eyes 
fixed  upon  Helga,  though  he  addressed  me.  “ Some  people 
has  their  allowance  of  grief  sarved  out  all  at  once.  I earnestly 
hope,  lady,  that  life’s  a-going  to  luff  up  with  you  now,  and  lead 
ye  on  a course  that  won’t  take  long  to  bring  ye  to  the  port  of 
joyfulness.” 

J le  nodded  at  her  emphatically  with  as  much  sympathy  in  his 
countenance  as  his  weather-tanned  flesh  would  suffer  him  to 
exhibit. 

“ We  ha  L I ] a hard  tinio,”  she  answered,  gently. 

“ Much  loo  liind  for  any  girl  to  go  through,  ” said  L “ Men^ 


lit  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


li? 

you  must  know  this  lady  to  be  a complete  sailor.  She  can  take 
the  wheel;  she  can  sound  the  well;  she  has  a nerve  of  steel  at 
a moment  that  would  send  a good  many  who  consider  them- 
selves stout-hearted  to  their  prayers.  It  is  not  the  usage  of  the 
sea,  Abraham,  that  makes  her  look  poorly,  as  you  say.'’^ 

1 noticed  Jacob  leaning  forward  with  his  hands  upon  his 
knees,  staring  at  her.  Suddenly  he  smacked  his  leg  with  the 
sound  of  a pistol-shot. 

“ Why,  yes!^^  he  cried;  ‘‘  now  l^m  sure  of  it.  Wasn^t  you 
once  a boy,  mum?^^ 

“ What!’^  cried  Abraham,  turning  indignantly  upon  him. 

A faint  blush  entered  Helga^s  faoe. 

“ What  I mean  is,^^  continued  Jacob,  “ when  I last  see  ye 
you  was  dressed  up  as  a boy!^^ 

“ Yes,^^  said  I— ‘‘  yes.  And  what  then?^’ 

“ Wlioy,  then,^^  he  cried,  fetching  his  leg  another  violent 
slap;  “ Pigsears  Hall  owes  me  a gallon  o^  beer.  When  we  was 
aboard  the  Dane,^^  he  continued,  addressing  Abraham  and 
talking  with  ^longshore  vehemence,  I notched  sight  of  a boy 
that  I says  to  myself  thinks  I is  as  sartin  surely  a female  as  that 
the  Gull  lightship’s  painted  red.  I told  Pigsears  Hall  to  look. 
‘ Gal  in  your  eye!'  says  he.  ‘ Bet  ye  a gallon  of  ale,  Jacob, 
she’s  as  much  a boy  as  Barney  Parson’s  Willie!’  But  he  was 
too  busy  to  argue,  and  we  left  the  ship  without  thinking  more 
about  it.  Now  I’m  reminded,  and  I’m  right,  and  I calls  ye  to 
witness,  Abraham,  so  that  Pigsears  mayn’t  haul  ofiE  from  his 
wager.” 

‘‘  To  change  the  subject,”  I said,  abruptly,  ‘‘  you  men  seem 
to  have  some  queer  names  among  you.  Pigsears  Hall!  Could 
any  parson  be  got  to  christen  a man  so?” 

“ ’Tain’t  his  right  name,”  said  Abraham.  “ It’s  along  of 
his  ears  that  he’s  got  that  title.  There’s  Stickenup  Adams; 
that’s  ’cause  he  holds  his  thin  nose  so  high.  Then  there’s 
Paper-collar  Joe;  that’s  ’cause  he  likes  to  be  genteel  about  the 
neck.  W e’ve  all  got  nicknames.  But  in  a voyage  to  Aus- 
traley  we  gives  ourselves  the  tarms  our  mothers’  knew  us  by.’' 

“ What  is  your  name?”  said  L 

“ Abraham  Vise,”  said  he. 

‘‘  Wise?” 

I calls  it  Vise,”  said  he,  looking  a little  disconcerted;  ‘‘  iP^i 
wrote  with  a W.  ” 

“ And  your  shipmates?” 

‘‘  Him,”  he  answered,  indicating  his  comrade  by  jerking  his 
chin  at  him,  “ is  Jacob  Minikin.  Him  that’s  forrard  is 
Tommy  Budd.  ” He  paused,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  Helga. 


118 


DANISH  SWEETHEABt. 


“Jacob/^  said  he,  addressing  his  mate,  while  he  steadfastly 
regarded  the  girl,  ‘‘  IVe  been  a-thinking,  if  so  be  as  the  gen- 
tleman and  lady  aren’t  going  to  be  put  aboard  a homeward- 
bounder  in  a hurry,  how’s  she  to  sleep.  Tell  ye  what  it  is,” 
said  he,  slovvl}^  looking  around  at  Jacob;  “ if  to-night  finds 
’em  aboard  us  we’ll  have  to  tarn  out  of  the  fore-peak.  There’s 
a good  enough  bed  for  the  likes  of  us  men  under  that  there 
raft,”  said  he,  pointing  to  the  wide  recess  that  was  roofed  by 
the  overhanging  of  the  deck  of  the  fore-peak.  The  lady 
looks  as  if  nothen  short  of  a twenty-four  hours’  spell  of  sound 
sleep  was  going  to  do  her  good.  But  of  course,  as  1 was 
saying,”  and  now  he  was  addressing  me,  ‘‘  you  and  her  may 
be  aboard  another  craft,  homeward  bound,  before  the  night 
comes.” 

“ I thank  you,  on  behalf  of  the  lady,  for  your  proposal, 
Abraham,”  said  I.  She  wants  rest,  as  you  say;  but  privacy 
must  naturally  be  a condition  of  her  resting  comfortably  in 
your  fore-peak.  Six  hours  would  suffice — ” 

“ Oh!  she  can  lie  there  all  night,”  said  Jacob. 

At  this  moment  the  third  man  made  his  appearance.  He  rose 
thrusting  through  a little  square  hatch,  and,  with  true  ’long- 
shore instincts,  took  a slow  survey  of  the  sea,  with  an  occasional 
rub  of  his  wrist  along  his  eyes  before  coming  aft.  He  glanced 
at  Helga  and  me  carelessly,  as  though  we  had  long  become 
familiar  features  of  the  lugger  to  his  mind,  and,  giving  Abra- 
ham a nod,  exclaimed,  with  another  look  round  the  sea:  ‘‘A 
nice  little  air  o’  wind  out  this  marning.” 

This  fellow  was  a middle-aged  man,  probably  forty-five. 
His  countenance  was  of  a somewhat  sour  cast,  his  eyebrows 
thick  and  of  an  iron-gray,  and  his  eyes,  deep-seated  under 
them,  gazed  forth  between  lids  whose  rims  were  so  red  that 
they  put  a fancy  into  one  of  their  being  slowly  eaten  away  by 
fire  as  a spark  bites  into  tinder.  The  sulky  curl  of  mouth  ex- 
pressed the  born  marine  grumbler.  His  head-gear  was  of  fur, 
like  Jacob’s;  but  I observed  that  he  was  dressed  in  a long 
coat  that  had  manifestly  been  cut  for  or  worn  by  a parson. 
Under  the  flapping  tails  of  this  coat  were  exhibited  a pair  of 
very  loose  fearnaught  trousers,  terminating  in  a pair  of  large, 
gouty,  square-toed  shoes. 

“What  about  breakfast?”  said  he.  “Ain’t  it  toime  to 
loight  the  foire?” 

“ Why,  yes,”  answered  Abraham;  “ and  1 dessay,”  said  he, 
looking  at  me,  “ye  won’t  bo  sorry  to  get  a mouthful  o’ 
wittles.  ” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  119 

The  sour-faced  man  named  Tommy  went  forward,  and  was 
presently  busy  in  chopping  up  a piece  of  wood, 

“ There  are  some  good  rashers  to  be  had  out  of  those  hams 
you  took  from  the  raft/^  said  I;  ‘‘ you  will  find  the  canned 
meat  pleasant  eating  too.  While  you  are  getting  breakfast  Til 
explore  your  fore- peak,  with  your  permission. 

Sartinly,^^  answered  Abraham. 

“ Come  along,  Helga,^^  said  I.  And  we  went  forward. 

We  dropped  through  the  hatch,  and  found  ourselves  in  a 
little  gloomy  interior,  much  too  shallow  to  stand  erect  in. 
There  were  four  bunks,  so  contrived  as  to  serve  as  seats  and 
lockers  as  well  as  beds.  There  were  no  mattresses,  but  in 
each  bunk  was  a little  pile  of  blankets. 

A noble  sea-parlor,  Helga!’^  said  I,  laughing. 

It  is  better  than  the  raft,^^  she  answered. 

Ay,  indeed!  but  for  all  that  not  so  good  as  to  render  us 
unwilling  to  leave  this  little  lugger.  You  will  never  be  able 
to  sleep  in  one  of  these  holes?’^ 

“ Oh,  yes,^^she  answered,  wiih  a note  of  cheerfulness  in  her 
voice;  “ but  I hope  there  may  be  no  occasion.  I shall  not  want 
to  sleep  till  the  night  comes,  and,  before  it  comes,  we  may  be 
in  another  ship  journeying  home— to  your  home,  1 mean,^^ 
she  added,  with  a sigh. 

“ And  not  more  mine  than  yours,  so  long  as  it  will  please 
you  to  make  it  yours.  And  now,^^  said  I,  that  we  may  be 
as  comfortable  as  possible — where  are  our  friends^  toilet  con- 
veniences? Their  wash-basin  is,  no  doubt,  the  ocean  over  the 
side,  and  I suspect  a little  lump  of  grease,  used  at  long  inter- 
vals, serves  them  for  the  soap  they  need.  But  there  is  plenty 
of  refreshment  to  be  had  out  of  a salt-water  rinsing  of  the 
face.  Stay  you  here,  and  I will  hand  you  down  what  is  to  be 
found. 

1 regained  the  deck,  and  asked  one  of  the  men  to  draw  me  a 
bucket  of  salt-water.  I then  asked  Abraham  for  a piece  of 
sail-cloth  to  serve  as  a towel. 

Sail-cloth he  cried.  “ Fll  give  ye  the  real  thing,^^ 
and  sliding  open  a locker  in  the  stern  sheets,  he  extracted  a 
couple  of  towels. 

“ Want  any  soap?^^  said  he. 

Soap!"^  cried  I.  Have  you  such  a thing?^^ 

‘‘  Why,  what  d^'ye  think  we  are?^^  called  the  sour-faced  man 
Tommy,  who  was  kneeling  at  the  little  stove  and  blowing  into 
it  to  kindle  some  chips  of  wood,  “ How^s  a naan  to  shavf 
without  soap?^^ 


120 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ Want  a looking-glass?^^  said  Abraham,  handing  me  a 
lump  of  marine  soap  as  he  spoke. 

“ Thank  you/^  said  I,  modestly. 

And  here^s  a comb/^  said  he,  producing  out  of  his  trc  users 
pocket  a knife-shaped  affair  that  he  opened  into  a large  brass 
comb.  ‘‘  Anything  more?’^ 

‘‘  What  more  have  you?^^  said  I. 

“ Nothin^  save  a razor,^^  said  he. 

This  I did  not  require.  I carried  the  bucket  and  the  little 
bundle  of  unexpected  conveniences  to  the  hatch,  and  called  to 
Helga. 

“ Here  am  I rich  in  spoils,^'^  said  1,  softly.  These  boat- 
men are  complete  dandies.  Here  is  soap,  here  are  towels,  here 
is  a looking-glass,  and  here  is  a comb/^  and  having  handed 
her  these  things  I made  my  way  aft  again. 

‘‘We  ha^n^t  asked  your  name  yet,  sir,^^  said  Abraham,  who 
was  at  the  tiller  again,  while  the  other  two  were  busy  at  the 
stove  getting  the  breakfast. 

“ Hugh  Tregarthen,^^  said  I. 

“ Thank  ye/’  said  he;  “ and  the  lady.^^^ 

“ Helga  Nielsen. 

He  nodded  approvingly,  as  though  pleased  with  the  sound 
of  the  name. 

“ She’s  a nice  little  gal,  upon  my  word,”  said  he;  “ too 
good  to  belong  to  any  other  country  nor  Britain.  Them 
Danes  gets  hold  of  the  English  tongue  wonderful  fast.  Take  a 
Swede  or  a Dutchman;  it’s  yaiv  yaw  v/ith  them  to  the  end  of 
their  time.  But  I’ve  met  Danes  as  ye  wouldn’t  know  from 
Deal  men,  so  fust-class  was  their  speech.”  He  slowly  carried 
his  chin  to  his  shoulder  to  take  a view  of  the  W'eather  astern, 
and  then,  fastening  his  eyes  with  ’longshore  leisureliness  upon 
my  face — and  I now  noticed  for  the  first  time  that  he  slightly 
squinted — he  said,  “ It’s  a good  job  that  we  fell  in  with  ’ee, 
Mr.  Tregarthen;  for  if  so  be  as  you  two  had  kept  all  on  wash- 
ing about  on  that  there  raft  till  noon  to-day — and  I give  ye 
till  noon — ye’d  be  wanting  no  man’s  help  nor  prayers  after- 
ward. It’s  a-going  to  blow.  ” 

“Yes,”  said  I,  “ there’s  wind  enough  in  that  sky  there;  in 
fact,  it’s  freshening  a bit  already,  isn’t  it?”  For  I now  per- 
ceived the  keener  feathering  and  sharper  play  upon  the  waters, 
and  the  harder  and  broader  racing  of  the  yeast  that  was 
pouring  away  from  either  quarter  of  the  lugger.  “There’s 
been  a shift  of  the  wind,  too,  I think,”  I added,  trying  to 
catch  a sight  of  the  dusky  interior  of  a little  compass-bo^  that 
stood  on  the  seat  Abraham. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


131 


•*  Yes,  it^s  drawed  norradly,^^  he  answered.  “ I ain^t  sorry, 
for  it^s  like  justifying  of  me  for  not  setting  ye  ashore.  I did 
think,  when  the  young  lady  asked  me  to  steer  for  England, 
that  I wasnH  acting  the  part  of  a humane  man  in  refusing  of 
her,  and  for  keeping  all  on  stretching  the  distance  between 
you  and  your  home.  But  I reckoned  upon  the  wind  drawing 
ahead  for  a homeward-bound  course,  and  now  it  has;  so  that 
if  we  was  to  keep  you  a week  and  get  ye  aboard  a steamer  at  the  ^ 
end  of  it  you^d  stand  to  get  home  sooner  than  if  we  w^as  to 
down  helium  now  and  start  a-ratching  for  your  coast. 

“ We  owe  our  lives  to  you,^’  said  I,  cordially.  “ Not  likely 
that  we  could  wish  to  inconvenience  you  by  causing  your  lug- 
ger to  swerve  by  so  much  as  a foot  from  her  course.^' 


OHAPTEE  XL 

HEADING  SOUTH. 

Just  then  Helga  rose  through  the  hatch.  1 caught  an  ex- 
pression of  admiration  in  Abraham^s  face  at  her  floating,  grace- 
ful manner  of  passing  through  the  little  aperture. 

‘‘  She  might  ha^  been  born  and  bred  in  a lugger,^^  said  he 
to  me  in  a hoarse  whisper.  * ‘ Whoy,  with  the  werry  choicest 
and  elegantest  o^  females  it  ^ud  be  no  more’n  an  awkward 
scramble  to  squeeze  through  that  hole.  Has  she  wings  to  her 
feet?  I didn^t  see  her  use  her  elbows,  did  you?  And,  my 
precious  limbs!  how  easily  she  takes  them  thwarts!^^  by  which 
he  meant  her  manner  of  passing  over  the  seats  of  the  boat. 

Perhaps  now  I could  find  heart  to  admire  the  girPs  figure. 
Certainly  I had  had  but  small  spirit  for  observation  of  that  kind 
aboard  the  raft,  and  there  only  had  her  shape  been  revealed 
to  me;  for  in  the  bark  no  hint  was  conveyed  by  her  boyish 
attire  of  the  charms  it  rudely  and  heavily  concealed.  The 
sparkling  brine  with  which  she  had  refreshed  her  face  had  pat 
something  of  life  into  her  pale  cheeks,  and  there  was  a faint 
bloom  in  her  complexion  that  was  slightly  deepened  by  a deli- 
cate glow  as  she  smiled  in  response  to  my  smile  and  took  a 
seat  at  my  side. 

“ Them  rashers  smell  first-class,^’  said  Abraham,  with  a 
hungry  snuffle.  “It  must  be  prime  ham  as’ll  steal  to  the 
nose,  while  cooking,  dead  in  the  wind’s  eye.” 

“Before  breakfast  is  ready,”  said  I,  “I’ll  imitate  Miss 
Nielsen’s  example,”  and  with  that  I went  forward,  drew  a 
bucket  of  water,  dropped  into  the  fore-peak,  and  enjoyed  the 
most  refreshing  wash  that  I can  call  to  mind.  One  needs  tf 


123 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


be  shipwrecked  to  appreciate  these  seeming  trifles.  For  my 
own  part,  I could  scarcely  realize  that,  saving  my  oilskin  coat, 
I had  not  removed  a stitch  of  my  clothes  since  1 had  run  from 
my  mother’s  house  to  the  life-boat.  1 came  into  theli;>jit  that 
streamed  into  the  little  hatch,  and  took  a view  of  myself  in 
the  looking-glass,  and  was  surprised  to  find  how  triiiing  were 
the  marks  1 boro  of  the  severe,  I may  truly  say  the  desperate, 
experiences  I had  passed  through,  My  eyes  retained  their 
brightness,  my  cheeks  their  color.  1 was  bearded,  and  there- 
fore able  to  emerge  triumphantly  from  a prolonged  pagy-age  of 
marine  disaster  without  requiring  to  use  a razor.  It  is  the 
stubbled  chin  that  completes  the  gauntness  of  the  shipwrecked 
countenance. 

I have  a lively  recollection  of  that  breakfast — our  first  meal 
aboard  the  Early  Morn.”  Rashers  of  barn  hissed,  in  the  fry- 
ing-pan; each,  of  us  grasped  a thick  china  mug  full  of  black 
coliee;  the  bag  of  biscuits  we  had  brought  with  us  from  the 
bark  lay  yawning  at  our  feet,  and  every  one  helped  himself. 
The  boatmen  chewed  away  solemnly,  as  though  they  were 
masticating  quids  of  tobacco,  each  man  falling  to  with  a huge 
clasp-knife,  that  doubtless  communicated  a distinct  flavor  of 
tarred  hemp  to  whatever  the  blade  came  in  contact  with.  In- 
deed, they  cut  up  their  victuals  as  they  might  cut  up  tobacco; 
working  at  it  with  extended  arms  and  backward-leaning 
posture,  putting  bits  of  the  food  together  as  though  to  fit  thdr 
mouths,  and  then  whipping  the  morsel  on  the  tips  of  their 
knives  through  their  leathery  lips  with  a slow  chaw,  chaw  of 
their  under-jaws  that  made  one  think  of  a cow  busy  with  the 
cud.  Tlieir  leisurely  behavior  carried  me  in  imagination  to 
the  English  sea-side;  for  these  were  the  sort  of  men  who,  swift 
as  might  be  their  movements  in  an  hour  of  necessity,  were  the 
most  loafing  of  loungers  in  times  of  idleness— men  who  could 
not  stand  upright,  who  polished  the  hardest  granite  by  con- 
stant friction  with  their  fearuaught  trousers,  but  who  were  yet 
the  fittest  central  objects  imaginable  for  that  prospect  of  golden 
sand,  of  calm  blue  sea,  of  marble-white  pier  and  terraces  of 
cliff  lifting  their  summits  of  sloping  green  high  into  the  sweet 
clear  atmosphere,  which  one  has  in  mind  when  one  thinks  of 
the  holiday  coast  of  the  old  home. 

The  man  named  Thomas  having  cooked  the  breakfast,  had 
taken  the  helm,  but  the  obligation  of  steering  did  not  inter- 
fere with  his  eating.  In  fact,  I observed  that  he  steered  with 
the  small  of  his  back,  holj)ing  the  helm  now  and  again  by  a 
slight  toucli  of  the  tillin’  with  his  elbow,  while  ho  fell  to  on  the 
plate  upon  his  knee.  For  my  part^  I was  as  hungry  as  a wolf^ 


MT  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


128 


and  fed  heartily,  as  the  old  voyagers  would  have  said.  Helga, 
too,  did  very  well;  indeed,  her  grief  had  half  starved  her,  and 
mighty  glad  was  I to  see  this  fair  and  dainty  little  heart  of 
oak  making  a meal,  for  it  was  a good  assurance,  in  its  way  that 
she  was  fighting  with  her  sorrow  and  was  beginning  to  look  at 
the  future  without  the  bitter  sadness  that  was  in  her  gaze  yes- 
terday. 

But  while  we  sat  eating  and  chatting,  the  wind  continued 
to  slowly  freshen;  the  fore-sheet  had  tautened  to  the  rigidity 
of  iron,  and  now  and  again  the  lugger  made  a plunge  that 
would  send  a bright  mass  of  while  water  rolling  away  from 
either  bow.  The  wind,  however,  was  almost  over  the  stern, 
and  we  bowled  along  before  it  on  a level  keel,  save  when  some 
scend  of  sea,  lifting  her  under  the  quarter,  threw  the  little 
fabric  along  with  a slanting  must  a!id  a sharper  drum-like 
rolling  out  of  the  heart  of  the  distended  canvas  as  the  lugger 
recovered  herself  with  a saucy  swing  to  sta-board. 

“ Who  says  we  ain’t  going  to  reach  Austraiey.^’^  exclaimed 
Abraham,  palling  out  a short  pipe  and  filling  it,  with  a slow 
satisfied  grin  at  the  yeasty  dazzle  over  the  lee  rail  to  which  the 
eye,  fastened  upon  it,  was  stooped  at  times  so  close  that  the 
brain  seemed  to  dance  to  the  wild  and  brilliant  gyrations  of 
the  milky  race, 

“ A strange  fancy, said  I,  “ for  a man  to  buy  a Deal  lug- 
ger for  Sydney  Bay.” 

“ If  it  vvarii’t  for  strange  fancies,”  said  Thomas,  .with  a sour 
glance,  ‘^it  ’ud  be  a poor  lookout  for  the  likes  of  such  as 
me.” 

Tell  ye  what  I’m  a-going  to  miss  in  this  here  ramble,” 
exclaimed  Jacob.  “ That’s  beer,  mates.” 

Beer  ’ll  come  the  sweeter  for  the  want  of  it,”  said  Abra- 
ham, with  a sympathetic  face.  Still,  I must  say,  when  a 
mail  feels  down  there’s  nothin’  like  a point  o’  beer.” 

What’s  drunk  in  your  country,  mum?”  said  Jacob. 

“ Everything  that  you  drink  in  England,”  Helga  answered. 

“ But  i allow,”  grunted  Thomas,  foing  a morose  eye  upon 
the  horizon,  “ that  the  Scandinavians,  as  the  Danes  and  jike- 
vise  the  Swedes  along  with  other  nations,  incloodin’  of  . the 
Koosians,  is  called,  beTit  so  particular  in  the  matter  o'  drink 
.as  the  English,  to  say  nothen  o’  Dealmen.  Whoy,”  he 
added,  with  a voice  of  con  tempi,  they’re  often  content  to 
do  without  it.  Capt’ns  and  owners  know  that.  The  Scan- 
dinavian fancies  is  so  cheap  that  you  may  fill  your  fo’k’sl© 
with  twenty  sailors  ontarms  rhal  ’ad  slarve  six  Englishmen/'' 

The  Danes  are  good  sailors/’  said  Helga,  looking  at  him. 


124 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEARi*. 

“ and  they  are  the  better  sailors  because  they  are  a sober  peo- 
ple/^ 

“ Fve  got  nothen  to  say  agin  ^em  as  sailors/^  retorted 
Thomas;  “ but  they  ships  too  cheap,  mum — they  ships  too 
cheapF’ 

“ They  will  take  what  an  Englishman  will  take!’^  ex- 
claimed Helga^  with  a little  sparkle  in  her  eye. 

So  they  will,  mum — so  they  will!^^  exclaimed  Abraham, 
soothingly.  “ The  Dane^s  a fust-class  sailor  and  a temperate 
man,  and  when  Tommy  there’ll  give  me  an  opportunity  of 
saying  as  much  for  him  I’ll  proclaim  it.” 

1 was  standing  up,  peering  round  the  sea  for  perhaps  the 
tenth  time  that  morning,  when,  happening  to  have  my  eyes 
directed  astern,  as  the  lugger  ran  in  one  of  her  graceful  buoy- 
ant, soaring  launches  to  the  summit  of  a little  surge — for  the 
freshening  of  the  wind  had  already  set  the  water  running  in 
heaps,  noticeable  even  now  for  weight  and  velocity  aboard 
that  open  craft  of  eighteen  tons,  though  from  the  height 
of  a big  ship  the  seas  would  have  been  no  more  than  a pleasant 
wrinkling  of  the  northerly  swell — I say,  happening  to  look 
astern  at  that  moment,  I caught  sight  of  a flake  of  white 
poised  star-like  over  the  rim  of  the  ocean.  The  lugger  sunk, 
then  rose  again,  and  again  1 spied  that  bland,  moon-like  point 
of  canvas. 

‘‘  A sail!”  said  I,  “ but  unhappily  in  chase  of  us.  Always, 
in  such  times  as  these,  whatever  shows  shows  at  the  wrong 
end.” 

Abraham  stood  up  to  look,  saw  the  object,  and  seated  him- 
self in  silence. 

“ How  are  you  heading  the  lugger?”  cried  I 

‘‘  Sou’-sou’-west,”  he  answered. 

“ What  course  have  you  determined  on?”  said  I,  anxious 
to  gather  from  the  character  of  his  navigation  what  might  bs 
our  chances  of  falling  in  with  the  homeward-bounders. 

‘‘  Why,  keep  on  heading  as  we  go,^’  he  answered,  “ till  we 
strike  the  south-east  trades,  which  are  to  be  met  with  a-blow- 
ing  at  about  two-and-twenty  degrees  no’the;  then  bring  the 
‘ Airly  Marn  ’ to  about  south.  When  the  hequator’s  crossed,” 
continued  he,  smoking,  with  his  head  well  sunk  between  his 
coat  collars,  “ we  strikes  off  to  the  west’ard  again  for  the 
hisliiiid  of  Trinidad— not  to  soight  it;  but  when  we  gits  into 
its  latit  lido  wo  starboards  for  the  south-east  trades  and  goes 
away  for  the  Cnpe  o’  Good  Hope.  Are  ye  anything  of  a navi- 
gator yourself?” 

“ No,”  1 answered,  wliich  was  true  enough,  though  I was 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


125 


not  SO  wholly  ignorant  of  the  art  of  conducting  a ship  from 
one  place  to  another  as  not  to  listen  with  the  utmost  degree 
of  astonishment  to  this  simple  boatman’s  programme  of  the 
voyage  to  Australia. 

He  whipped  open  the  same  locker  from  which  he  had  taken 
the  rough  toilet  articles,  and  extracted  a little  blue-backed 
track-chart  of  the  world,  which  he  opened  and  laid  across  his 
knees. 

“ 1 suppose  ye  can  read,  sir?’^  said  he,  not  at  all  designing 
to  be  offensive,  as  was  readily  gatherable  from  his  countenance, 
merely  putting  the  question,  as  I easily  saw,  oat  oi  his  experi- 
ence of  the  culture  of  Deal  beach. 

Helga  laughed. 

Yes,  I can  read  a little,^’  said  1. 

“ Well,  then,’^  said  he,  laying  a twisted  stump  of  thumb 
upon  the  chart,  “ here^s  the  whole  blooming  wpyage  wrote 
down  by  Capt^n  Israel  Brown  of  the  ‘ Turk’s  Head,’  a wessel 
that  was  in  the  Downs  when  my  mates  and  me  agreed  for  to 
undertake  this  job.  He  took  me  into  his  cabin,  and  pulling 
out  this  here  chart,  he  marked  these  lines  as  you  see  down 
upon  it.  ‘There,  Abraham!’  he  says,  says  he;  ‘you  steer 
according  to  these  here  directions,  and  your  lugger  ’ll  hit  Syd- 
ney Bay  like  threading  a needle.’  ” 

1 looked  at  the  chart,  and  discovered  that  the  course  marked 
upon  it  would  carry  the  lugger  to  the  westward  of  Madeira.  It 
was  not  suggested  by  the  indications  that  any  port  was  to  be 
touched  at,  or,  indeed,  any  land  to  be  made  until  Table  Bay 
was  reached.  The  two  men,  Jacob  and  Tommy,  were  eying 
me  eagerly,  as  though  thirsting^  for  an  argument.  This  deter- 
mined me  not  to  hazard  any  criticism.  1 merely  said: 

“ 1 understood  from  you,  1 think,  that  you  depend  upon 
ships  supplying  you  with  your  wants.” 

Abraham  responded  with  an  emphatic  nod. 

Well,  thought  I,  1 suppose  the  fellows  know  what  they  are 
about;  but  in  the  face  of  that  chart  I could  not  but  feel 
mightily  thankful  that  Helga  and  1 stood  a chance  of  being 
transshiped  long  before  experience  should  have  taught  the 
men  that  charity  was  as  little  to  be  depended  at  upon  sea  as 
ashore.  They  talked  of  five  months,  and  even  of  six,  in  mak- 
ing the  run,  and  who  was  to  question  such  a possibility  when 
the  distance,  the  size  of  the  boat,  the  vast  areas  of  furious 
tempest  and  of  rotting  calm  which  lay  ahead  were  considered? 
The  mere  notion  of  the  sense  of  profound  tediousness,  of  sick- 
ening wearisomeness  which  must  speedily  come,  sent  a shudder 
through  me  when  I looked  at  the  open  craft  whose  length 


m 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


might  have  been  measured  by  an  active  jumper  in  a couple  of 
bounds,  in  which  there  was  no  space  for  walking,  and  for  the 
matter  of  that  not  very  much  room  for  moving,  what  with  the 
contiguity  of  the  thwarts  and  the  incumbrances  of  lockers, 
spare  masts  and  oars,  the  pump,  the  stove,  the  little  deck  for- 
ward, the  boat,  and  the  rest  of  the  furniture. 

I asked  Abraham  how  they  managed  in  the  matter  of  keep 
ing  a lookout. 

“ One  tarns  in  for  four  hours,  and  t’other  two  keep  the  watch, 
one  a-steering  for  two  hours  and  the  other  relieving  him  ar- 
ter  wards. 

‘‘  That  gives  you  eight  hours  on  deck  and  four  hours  sleep,’’ 
said  Helga. 

“ Quite  right,  mum.” 

“Eight  hours  of  deck  is  too  much,”  she  cried;  “there 
should  have  been  four  of  you.  Then  it  would  have  been  watch 
and  watch.” 

“Ay,  and  another  share  to  bringdown  our’n,”  exclaimed 
Thomas. 

“Mr.  Abraham,”  said  Helga,  “Mr.  Tregarthen  has  told 
you  that  1 can  steer.  I promise  you  that  while  I am  at  the 
helm  the  lugger’s  course  shall  be  as  true  as  a hair,  as  you 
sailors  say.  I can  also  keep  a lookout.  Many  and  many  a 
time  have  I kept  watch  on  board  my  father’s  ship.  While  we 
are  with  you,  you  must  let  me  make  one  of  your  crew.” 

“ I,  too,  am  reckoned  a middling  hand  at  the  helm,”  said 
I;  “so  while  we  are  here  there  will  be  five  of  us  to  do  the  lug- 
ger’s work.” 

Abraham  looked  at  the  girl  admiringly. 

“ You’re  a werry  good  lady,”  he  said;  “ I dorn’t  doubt  your 
willingness.  On  board  a ship  I shouldn’t  doubt  your  capacity; 
but  the  handling  of  these  here  luggers  is  a job  as  needs  the 
eddication  of  years.  Us  Deal  boatmen  are  born  into  the  v/ork, 
and  them  as  ain’t  commonly  perish  when  they  tries  their  hand 
at  it” 

“’Sides,  it’s  a long  woyage,”  growled  Thomas,  “and  if 
more  shares  is  to  be  made  of  it  I’m  for  going  home.” 

“You’re  always  a-thinking  of  the  shares.  Tommy,”  cried 
Abraham;  “ the  gent  and  the  lady  means  nothing  but  koind- 
ness.  No,  mum,  thanking  you  all  the  same,”  continued  he, 
giving  Ilelga  an  ungainly  but  respectful  sea  bow.  “ You’re 
shipwrecked  passengers,  and  our  duty  is  to  put  ye  in  the  way 
of  getting  home.  That’s  vvliat  you  expect  of  us;  and  what 
we  exiiect  of  you  is  that  you’ll  make  your  minds  easy  and  keep 
comfortable  ontil  ye  leave  us.” 


HY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


m 


I thanked  him  warmly,  and  then  stood  up  to  take  another 
look  at  the  vessel  that  was  overhauling  us  astern.  She  was 
yieirig  fast,  already  dashing  the  sky  past  the  blue  ridges  of  the 
ocean  with  a broad  gleam  of  canvas. 

‘‘Helga,^^  said  I,  softly,  “there  is  a large  ship  rapidly 
coming  up  astern.  Shall  we  ask  these  men  to  put  us  aboard 
her?” 

She  fastened  her  pretty  blue  eyes  thoughtfully  upon  me. 

“ She  is  not  going  home,  Hugh.^^ 

“ No,  nor  is  the  lugger.  That  ship  should  make  us  a more 
comfortable  home  than  this  little  craft  until  we  can  get  aboard 
another  vessel. 

She  continued  to  eye  me  thoughtfully,  and  then  said: 
“ This  lugger  will  give  us  a better  chance  of  getting  home 
quickly  than  that  ship.  These  men  will  run  down  to  a vessel 
or  even  chase  one  to  oblige  us  and  to  get  rid  of  us;  but  a ship 
like  that,"^^  said  she,  looking  astern,  “ is  always  in  a hurry 
when  the  wind  blows,  and  is  rarely  very  willing  to  back  her 
topsail.  And  then  think  what  a swift  ship  she  must  be,  to 
judge  from  her  manner  of  overtaking  us!  The  swifter,  the 
worse  for  us,  Hugh — I mean,  the  further  you  will  be  carried 
away  from  your  home.^^ 

She  met  my  eyes  with  a faint  wistful  smile  upon  her  face,  as 
though  she  feared  1 would  think  her  forward. 

“You  are  right,  Helga,^^  said  I.  “ You  are  every  inch  a 
sailor.  We  will  stick  to  the  lugger. 

Abraham  went  forward  to  lie  down,  after  instructing  Jacob 
to  arouse  him  at  a quarter  before  noon,  that  he  might  shoot 
the  sun.  Thomas  sat  with  a sulky  countenance  at  the  helm, 
and  Jacob  overhung  the  rail  close  against  the  fore-sheet,  his 
chin  upon  his  hairy  wrist,  and  his  gaze  leveled  at  the  horizon 
after  the  mechanical  fashion  of  the  ^longshoreman  afloat.  At 
intervals  the  wind  continued  to  freshen  in  small  “guns,^^  to 
use  the  expressive  old  term~in  little  blasts  or  shocks  of  squall, 
which  flashed  with  a shriek  into  the  concavity  of  the  lug,  leav- 
ing the  wind  steady  again  but  stronger,  with  a higher  tone  in 
the  moan  of  it  above  and  a stormier  boiling  of  the  waters  round 
about  the  lugger,  that  seemed  to  be  swirling  along  as  though 
a comet  had  got  her  in  tow,  though  this  sense  of  speed  was  no 
doubt  sharpened  by  the  closeness  of  the  hissing  white  waters 
to  the  rail.  Yet  shortly  after  ten  o'clock  the  ship  astern  had 
risen  to  her  v/ater-Iine  and  was  picking  us  up  as  though,  for- 
sooth, we  were  riding  to  a sea-anchor. 

A nobler  ocean  picture  never  delighted  a landsman/s  vision. 
The  snow-white  spires  of  the  onccming  ship  swayed  with  solemn 


m 


MY  DAKISII  SWEETHEART. 


and  stately  motions  to  the  underrun  of  the  quartering  segu 
She  had  studding-sails  out  to  starboard,  one  mounting  to  an- 
other in  a very  nv-’amid  of  soft  milky  cloths,  and  her  wings  of 
jibs,  almost  be(  \^<ied,  floated  airily  from  masthead  to  bowsprit 
a?id  jibboom  • -i  J like  symmetric  fragments  of  fleecy  cloud  rent 
from  the  stai  t i;/  mass  of  fabric  that  soared  behind  them  brill- 
iant in  the  flashing  sunshine.  Each  time  our  lugger  was  hove 
upward  I would  spy  the  dazzling  smother  of  the  foam,  which 
the  shearing  cutwater  of  the  clipper,  driven  by  a power  greater 
than  steam,  was  piling  to  the  hawse-pipes,  even  to  the  very 
burying  of  the  forecastle-head  to  some  of  the  majestic  struct- 
ure's courtesies. 

Helga  watched  her  with  clasped  hands  and  parted  lips  and 
glowing  blue  eyes  full  of  spirit  and  delight.  The  glorious  sea- 
piece  seemed  to  suspend  memory  in  her;  all  look  of  grief  was 
gone  out  of  her  face,  her  very  being  appeared  to  have  blended 
itself  with  that  windy,  flying,  triumphant  oceanic  show,  and 
her  looks  of  elation,  the  abandonment  of  herself  to  the  impulse 
and  the  spirit  of  what  she  viewed,  assured  me  that  if  ever  old 
Ocean  owned  a daughter  its  child  was  the  pale,  blue-eyed, 
yellow-haired  maiden  who  sat  with  rapt  gaze  and  swift 
respiration  at  my  side. 

Jacob,  who  had  been  eying  the  ship  listlessly,  suddenly 
started  into  an  air  of  life  and  astonishment. 

“ Whoy,  Tommy, cried  he,  grasping  the  rail  and  staring 
over  the  stern  out  of  his  hunched  shoulders,  “ pisen  me,  mate, 
if  she  ain^t  the  ‘ Thermoppilly!^ 

Thomas  slowly  and  sulkily  turned  his  chin  upon  his  shoul- 
der, and,  after  a short  stare,  put  his  back  again  on  the  ship, 
and  said:  “ Yes,  that^s  the  ‘ Thermoppilly  ^ right  enough 

“ The  ‘ Thermopylae?^  said  I.  ‘‘  l3o  you  mean  the  famous 
Aberdeen  clipper?^^ 

“ Ay/’  cried  Jacob,  “ that^s  her!  Ain^t  she  a beauty? 

I Vly  oye,  what  a run!  What^s  a-goiog  to  touch  her?  Look  at 
Ibhom  mastheads!  Tall  enough  to  foul  the  stars.  Tommy,  and 
de-muge  the  blooming  solar  system/^ 

He  beat  his  thigh  in  his  enjoyment  of  the  sight,  and  contin- 
ued to  deliver  himself  of  a number  of  nautical  observations 
expressive  of  his  admiration  and  of  the  merits  of  the  approach- 
ing vessel. 

iShe  had  slightly  shifted  her  helm,  as  I might  take  it,  to  have 
a look  at  us,  and  would  pass  us  close.  The  thunder  of  the 
wind  in  her  towering  heights  came  along  to  our  ears  in  the 
sweep  of  the  air  in  a low  continuous  note  of  thunder.  You 
could  hear  the  boiling  of  the  water  bursting  and  pouring  from 


MY  DAT!TISH  sweetheart. 


129 


her  bows;  her  copper  gleamed  to  every  starboard  roll  on  the 
white  peaks  of  the  sea  along  her  bends  in  dull  flashes  as  of  a 
stormy  sunset,  with  a frequent  star-like  sparkling  about  her 
from  brass  or  glass.  How  swiftly  she  was  passing  us  I could 
not  have  imagined  until  she  was  on  our  quarter,  and  then 
abreast  of  us— so  close  that  1 could  distinguish  the  face  of  a 
man  standing  aft  looking  at  us,  of  the  fellow  at  the  wheel,  of 
a man  at  the  break  of  the  short  poop  singing  out  orders  in  a 
voice  whose  every  syllable  rung  clearly  to  our  hearing.  A 
crowd  of  seamen  were  engaged  in  getting  in  the  lower  studding- 
sail,  and  this  great  sail  went  melting  out  against  the  hard 
mottled-blue  of  the  sky  as  the  clipper  stormed  past. 

Jacob  sprung  on  to  a thwart,  and,  in  an  ecstasy  of  greeting 
that  made  a very  wind-mill  of  his  arms,  shrieked  rather  than 
roared  out:  “ How  d^ye  do,  sir — how  d^ye  do,  sir.^  How  are 
ye,  sir?  Glad  to  see  ye,  sir!^^ 

The  man  that  he  addressed  stared  a moment,  and  hastily  with- 
drew, and  returned  with  a binocular  glass,  which  he  leveled  at 
us  for  a moment,  then  flourished  his  hand. 

“ What  are  you  doing  down  here,  Jacob  he  bawled. 

‘‘  Going  to  Australey!^^  shouted  Jacob. 

“ Where?’ ^ roared  the  other. 

To  Sydney,  New  South  Wales!”  shouted  Jacob. 

The  man,  who  was  probably  the  captain,  put  his  finger 
against  his  nose  and  wagged  his  head;  but  further  speech  was 
no  longer  possible. 

“ He  don’t  believe  us!”  roared  Jacob  to  his  mate,  and 
forthwith  fell  to  making  twenty  extravagant  gestures  toward 
the  ship  in  notification  of  his  sincerity. 

The  wonderful  squareness  of  the  ship’s  canvas  stole  out  as 
she  gave  us  her  stern,  with  the  foam  of  her  w^ake  rushing 
from  under  the  counter  like  to  the  dazzling  back-wash  of  a 
huge  paddle-wheel,  and  she  seemed  to  fill  the  south-v/est 
heaven  with  her  cloths,  so  high  and  broad  did  those  compli- 
cated pinions,  soaring  to  the  trucks,  look  to  us  from  the  low 
seat  of  the  bounding  and  spluttering  lugger, 

“ Lord  now!”  cried  Jacob,  “ if  she’d  only  give  us  the  end 
of  a tow-rope!” 

“ Yes,”  said  I,  gazing  with  admiration  at  the  beautiful 
figure  of  the  ship  rapidly  forging  ahead,  and  already  diminish- 
ing into  an  exquisite  daintiness  and  delicacy  of  shape  and  tint, 
“ you  would  not,  in  that  case,  have  to  talk  of  five  or  six  months 
to  Australia.” 

At  a quarter  before  twelve  she  was  the  merest  toy  ahead, 
just  a glance  of  mother-of-pearl  upon  the  horizon;  but  by  this 


130 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART* 


hour  it  was  blowing  a strong  breeze  of  wind,  and  when  Abra- 
ham came  out  of  the  fore-peak  he  called  to  Jacob,  and  between 
them  they  eased  up  the  fore-halliards  and  hooked  the  sheet  to 
the  second  staken — in  other  words,  to  a sort  of  cringle  or  loop, 
ot  which  there  were  four.  Then,  having  knotted  the  reef  points, 
Abraham  came  aft  to  seek  for  the  sun. 

My  humor  was  not  a little  pensive,  for  the  sea  that  was  now 
running  was  a verification  of  the  boatman^s  words  to  me,  and 
I could  not  keep  my  thoughts  away  from  what  must  have  hap- 
pened to  Helga  and  me  h^ad  we  not  been  mercifully  taken  off 
the  raft.  The  lugger  rose  buoyantly  to  each  flickering,  seeth- 
ing head,  but,  spite  of  my  life-boat  experiences,  1 could  not 
help  watching  with  a certain  anxiety  the  headlong  rush  of 
foam  to  her  counter,  nor  could  I feel  the  wild,  ball-like  toss 
the  strong  Atlantic  surge  would  give  to  our  egg-shell  of  a 
boat  without  misgiving  as  to  the  sort  of  weather  she  was  likely 
to  make  should  such  another  storm  as  had  foundered  the 
“ Anine  come  down  upon  the  ocean.  I was  also  vexed  to 
the  heart  by  the  speed  at  which  we  were  driving,  and  by  the 
assurance,  1 was  seafarer  enough  to  understand,  that  in  such 
a lump  of  a sea  as  was  now  running  there  would  be  a very 
small  probability  indeed  of  our  being  able  to  board,  or  even 
to  get  alongside  of,  a homeward-bounder  though  twenty  vessels 
close-hauled  for  England  should  travel  past  us  in  an  hour. 
How  far  were  we  to  be  transported  into  this  great  ocean  before 
the  luck  of  the  sea  should  put  us  in  the  way  of  returning 
home?  These  were  considerations  to  greatly  subdue  my  spirits; 
and  there  was  also  the  horror  that  memory  brought  when  1 
glanced  at  the  sweeping  headlong  waters  and  thought  of  the 
raft. 

1 looked  at  Helga;  her  eyes  were  slowly  sweeping  the  hor- 
izon, and  on  their  coming  to  mine  the  tender  blue  of  them 
seemed  to  darken  to  a gentle  smile.  Whatever  her  heart 
might  be  thinking  of,  assuredly  no  trace  of  the  misgivings 
which  were  worrying  me  were  discernible  in  her.  The  shadow 
of  the  grief  that  had  been  upon  her  face  during  the  morning 
had  returned  with  the  passing  away  of  the  life  the  noble  pict- 
ure of  the  ship  had  kindled  in  her;  but  there  was  nothing  in 
it  to  weaken  in  her  lineaments  their  characteristic  expression 
of  firmness  and  resolution  and  spirit.  Her  tremorless  lips  lay 
parted  to  the  sweep  of  the  wind;  her  admirable  little  figure 
yielded  to  the  bounding,  often  violent,  jerking  motions  of  the 
lugger  with  the  grace  of  a consummate  horsewoman  who  is 
one  with  the  brave,  swift  creature  she  rides;  her  short  yellow 
hair  trembled  under  the  dark  velvet-like  skin  of  her  turban- 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  131 

shaped  hat,  as  though  each  gust  raised  a showering  of  gold- 
dust  about  her  neck  and  cheek^s. 

Yet  I believe  had  I been  under  sentence  of  death  1 must 
have  laughed  outright  at  the  spectacle  of  Abraham  bobbing  at 
the  sun  with  an  old-fashioned  quadrant  that  might  well  have 
been  in  use  for  forty  years.  He  stood  up  on  straddled  legs 
with  the  aged  instrument  at  his  eye,  mopping  and  mowing  at 
the  luminary  in  the  south,  and  biting  hard  in  his  puzzlement 
and  efforts  at  a piece  of  tobacco  that  stood  out  in  his  cheeks 
like  a knob. 

He^s  a blazing  long  time  in  making  height  bells,  hain^t 
he,  to-day?^^  said  Jacob,  addressing  Abraham,  and  referring 
to  the  sun. 

“ He^s  all  right,^^  answered  Abraham,  talking  with  his  eye 
at  the  little  telescope.  ‘‘You  leave  him  to  me,  mate;  keep 
you  quiet,  and  1^11  be  telling  you  what  o’clock  it  is  presently.’’ 

Helga  turned  her  head  to  conceal  her  face,  and,  indeed,  no 
countenance  more  comical  than  Abraham’s  could  be  imagined, 
what  with  the  mastication  of  his  jaws,  which  kept  his  ears  and 
the  muscles  of  his  forehead  moving,  an(f  what  with  the  in- 
tensity of  the  screwed-up  expression  of  his  closed  eye  and  the 
slow  wagging  of  his  beard,  like  the  tail  of  a pigeon  newly 
alighted. 

“ Height  bells!”  he  suddenly  roared  in  a voice  of  triumph, 
at  the  same  time  whipping  out  a huge  silver  watch,  at  which 
he  stared  for  some  moments,  holding  the  watch  out  at  arm’s- 
length  as  though  time  was  not  to  be  very  easily  read. 
“ Blowed  if  it  be  n’t  much  more  than  eleven  o’clock  at  Deal,” 
he  cried.  “ Only  fancy  being  able  to  make  or  lose  time  as  ye 
loike!  Werry  useful  ashore,  sir,  that  ’ud  be,  ’ticularly  when 
you’ve  got  a bill  a-fallmg  doo.” 

He  t&n  seated  himself  in  the  stern  sheets,  and,  producing 
a small  book  and  a lead-pencil  from  the  locker,  went  to  work 
to  calculate  his  latitude.  It  was  a very  rough,  ready,  and 
primitive  sort  of  reckoning.  He  eyed  the  paper  with  a know- 
ing face,  often  scratching  the  hair  over  his  ear  and  looking  up 
at  the  sky  with  counting  lips;  then,  being  satisfied,  he  admin- 
istered a nod  all  round,  took  out  his  chart,  and,  having  made 
a mark  upon  it,  exclaimed,  while  he  returned  it  to  the  locker: 
“ There,  that  job’s  over  till  twelve  o’clock  to-morrow.  ” This 
said,  he  extracted  a log-book  that  already  looked  as  though  it 
had  been  twice  round  the  world,  together  with  a little  penny 
b^vttle  of  ink  and  a pen,  and,  with  the  book  open  upon  his  knee, 
forthwith  entered  the  latitude  (as  he  made  it)  in  the  column 
ruled  for  that  purpose;  but  I could  not  see  that  he  made  any 


132 


MY  DANISH  SWJBETHEAKT. 


attempt  even  at  guessing  at  his  longitude,  though  1 noticed  that 
he  wrote  down  the  speed  of  his  little  craft,  which  he  obtained 
— and  1 dare  say  as  correctly  as  he  had  hove  the  log — by  cast- 
ing his  eye  over  the  side. 

“ How  d^ye  spell  ‘ Thermoppilly?’  said  he,  addressing  us 
generally. 

I told  him. 

Just  want  to  state  here  that  we  sighted  her,  that's  all," 
said  he;  ‘‘  this  here  space  with  ‘ Observations ' wrote  atop 
has  got  to  be  filled  up,  I suppose!  At  about  wan  o'clock  this 
marning,"  he  exclaimed,  speaking  very  slowly  and  writing 
as  he  spoke,  “ fell  in  with  a raft — how's  raft  spelled,  master? 
two  r's?"  I spelled  the  word  for  him.  “ Thank  'ee!  Fell 
in  with  a raft,  and  took  off  a lady  and  gent.  There,  that'll 
be  the  noose  for  twenty-four  hours!  Now  let's  go  to  dinner." 

This  midday  meal  was  composed  of  a piece  of  corned  beef, 
some  ship's  biscuit,  and  cheese.  I might  have  found  a better 
appetite  had  there  been  less  wind,  and  had  the  boat's  head 
been  pointed  the  other  way.  All  the  time  now  the  lugger  was 
swarming  through  it  at  the  rate  of  steam.  There  was  already 
a strong  sea  running  too,  the  storminess  of  which  we  should 
have  felt  had  we  had  it  on  the  bow;  but  our  arrowy  speeding 
before  it  softened  the  fierceness  of  its  sweeping  hurls,  and  the 
wind  for  the  same  reason  came  with  half  the  weight  it  really 
had,  though  we  must  have  been  reefed  down  to  a mere  strip  of 
canvas  had  we  been  close-hauled.  The  sun  shone  with  a dim 
and  windy  light  out  of  the  sky  that  was  hard  with  a piebald- 
ing  of  cloud. 

“ What  is  the  weather  going  to  prove?"  I asked  Abraham. 

He  munched  leisurely,  with  a slow  look  to  windward,  and 
answered:  “ 'Tain't  going  to  be  worse  nor. ye  see  it." 

“Have  you  a barometer?"  said  1. 

“No,"  he  answered;  “they're  no  good.  In  a boat  arter 
this  here  pattern  what's  the  use  of  knowing  what's  a-going 
to  come?  It's  only  a-letting  go  a rope  an'  you're  under  bare 
poles.  Marcury's  all  very  well  in  a big  ship,  where  ye  may  be 
taken  aback  clean  out  o'  the  sky,  and  lose  every  spar  down  to 
the  stumps  of  the  lower  masts." 

Though  I constantly  kept  a look-out,  sending  my  eyes 
roaming  over  either  bow  past  the  smooth  and  foaming  curves 
of  seas  rushing  ahead  of  us,  I was  very  sensible,  as  I have  said, 
that  nothing  was  to  be  done  in  such  hollow  waters  as  we  were 
now  rushing  through,  though  we  should  sight  a score  of  home- 
ward-bounders. Yet,  spite  of  the  wonderful  life  that  strong 
northerly  wind  swept  into  the  ocean,  nothing  whatever  showed 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


183 


during  the  rest  of  the  day,  if  1 except  a single  tip  of  canvas 
that  hovered  for  about  a quarter  of  an  hour  some  two  or  three 
leagues  down  in  the  east  like  a little  wreath  of  mountain  mist. 
The  incessant  pouring  of  the  wind  past  the  ear,  the  shouting 
and  whistling  of  it  as  it  flashed  spray-loaded  off  each  foaming 
peak  in  chase  of  us,  grew  inexpressibly  sickening  and  wearying 
to  me,  coming  as  it  did  after  our  long  exposure  to  the  jfierce 
weather  of  the  earlier  days.  The  thwarts  or  lockers  brought 
our  heads  above  the  line  of  the  gunwale,  and  to  remedy  this  I 
asked  leave  to  drag  a spare  sail  aft  into  the  bottom  of  the  boat, 
and  there  Helga  and  I sat,  somewhat  sheltered  at  least,  and 
capable  of  conversing  without  being  obliged  to  cry  out. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A ^LOKGSHORE  QUARREL. 

We  passed  the  afternoon  in  this  way.  Jacob  was  forward, 
sleeping;  Thomases  turn  at  the  helm  had  come  round  again; 
and  Abraham  lay  over  the  lee  rail,  within  grasp  of  the  fore- 
sheet, lost  in  contemplation  of  the  rushing  waters. 

“ Where  and  when  is  this  experience  of  ours  going  to  end?*' 
said  I to  Helga  as  we  sat  chatting. 

“ How  fast  are  we  traveling?^^  she  asked. 

Between  eight  and  nine  miles  an  hour,^^  1 answered. 

“ This  has  been  our  speed  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
day,^^  she  said.  Your  home  grows  more  and  more  distant, 
Hugh;  but  you  will  return  to  it.^’ 

“ Oh,  I fear  for  neither  of  us,  Helga,^^  said  I.  ‘‘  Were  it 
not  for  my  mother,  I should  not  be  anxious.  But  it  will  soon 
be  a week  since  I left  her,  and,  if  she  should  hear  that  I was 
blown  av/ay  out  of  the  bay  in  the  ‘ Anine/  she  will  conclude 
that  1 perished  in  the  vessel. 

“We  must  pray  that  God  will  support  her  and  give  her 
strength  to  await  your  return, said  she,  speaking  sadly,  with 
her  eyes  bent  down. 

What  more  could  she  say?  It  was  one  of  those  passages 
in  life  in  which  one  is  made  to  feel  that  Providence  is  all  in 
all,  when  the  very  instinct  of  human  action  in  one  is  arrested, 
and  when  there  comes  upon  the  spirit  a deep  pause  of  waiting 
for  God^s  will. 

I looked  at  her  earnestly  as  she  sat  by  my  side,  and  found 
myself  dwelling  with  an  almost  lover-like  pleasure  upon  the 
graces  of  her  pale  face,  the  delicacy  of  her  lineaments,  the 
refinement  of  prettiness  that  was  heightened  into  something 


134 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


of  dignity,  maidenly  as  it  was,  by  the  fortitude  of  spirit  her 
countenance  expressed. 

“ Helga,^^  said  I,  “ what  will  you  do  when  you  return  to 
Kolding?^"' 

“ 1 shall  have  to  think/^  she  answered,  with  the  scarcely 
perceptible  accent  of  a passing  tremor  in  her  voice. 

“ You  have  no  relatives,  your  father  told  me?’^ 

“ No;  none.  A few  friends,  but  no  relatives.”’^ 

‘‘  But  your  father  has  a house  at  Kolding?’^ 

“ He  rented  a house,  but  it  will  be  no  home  for  me  if  I can 
not  afford  to  maintain  it.  But  let  my  future  be  my  trouble, 
Hugh,^^  said  she,  gently,  looking  at  me,  and  always  pronounc- 
ing my  name  as  a sister  might  a brother’s. 

“ Oh,  no!”  said  L 1 am  under  a promise  to  your  father 
— a promise  that  his  death  makes  binding  as  a sacred  oath 
upon  me.  Your  future  must  be  my  business.  If  1 carry  you 
home  in  satety—I  mean  to  my  mother’s  home,  Helga — I shall 
consider  that  I saved  your  life;  and  the  life  a man  rescues  it 
should  be  his  privilege  to  render  as  easy  and  happy  as  it  may 
lie  in  his  power  to  make  it.  You  have  friends  in  my  mother 
and  me,  even  though  you  had  not  another  in  the  wide  world. 
So,  Helga,”  said  1,  taking  her  hand,  ‘‘however  our  strange 
rambles  may  end,  you  will  promise  me  not  to  fret  over  what 
your  future  may  hold  when  you  get  ashore.” 

She  looked  at  me  with  her  eyes  impassioned  with  gratitude. 
Her  lips  moved,  but  no  word  escaped  her,  and  she  averted  her 
face  to  hide  her  tears. 

Poor,  brave,  gentle,  little  Helga!  I spoke  but  out  of  my 
friendship  and  my  sympathy  for  her,  as  who  would  not,  situ- 
ated as  I was  with  her,  my  companion  in  distress,  now  an  or- 
phan, desolate,  friendless,  and  poor?  Yet  i little  knew  then, 
heedless  and  inexperienced  as  I was  in  such  matters,  how  pity 
In  the  heart  of  a young  man  will  swiftly  sweeten  into  deeper 
amotion  when  the  object  of  it  is  young  and  fair  and  loving  and 
alone  in  the  world. 

The  sun  went  down  on  a wild  scene  of  troubled,  running, 
foaming  waters,  darkling  into  green  as  they  leaped  and  broke 
along  the  western  sky  that  was  of  a thunderous,  smoky  tinct- 
ure, with  a hot,  dim,  and  stormy  scarlet  which  flushed  the 
clouds  to  the  zenith.  Yet  there  had  been  no  increase  in  the 
wind  during  the  afternoon.  It  had  settled  into  a hard  breeze, 
good  for  outward-bounders,  but  of  a sort  to  send  everything 
neading  north  that  was  not  steam  scattering  east  and  west, 
with  yards  fore  and  aft  and  tacks  e,;miplaining. 

By  this  time  1 had  grown  very  well  used  to  the  motion  of 


MY  TAKISH  SWEETHEAET. 


135 


ih.e  lugger,  had  marked  her  easy  flight  from  liquid  peak  into 
fL>;V:n-laced  valley,  the  onward  buoyant  bound  again,  the  steady 
{ ;ii  upon  the  head  of  the  creaming  sea,  with  foam  to  the  line 
{ f the  bulwark-rail,  and  the  air  for  an  instant  snow-like  with 
ilyiug  spume,  and  all  the  while  the  inside  of  the  boat  as  dry  as 
toast,  This^I  say,  I had  noticed  with  increasing  admiration 
of  the  sea-going  qualities  of  the  hearty,  bouncing,  stalwart  little 
fabric;  and  I was  no  longer  sensible  of  the  anxiety  that  had  be- 
fore possessed  me  when  I had  thought  of  this  undecked  lugger 
struggling  with  a strong  and  lumpish  sea — a mere  yawn  upon 
the  water,  saving  her  forecastle — so  that  a single  billow  tum- 
bling over  the  rail  must  send  her  to  the  bottom. 

“ Small  wonder, said  I to  Ilelga,  as  we  sat  watching  the 
sunset  and  marking  the  behavior  of  the  boat,  “that  these 
Deal  luggers  should  have  the  greatest  reputation  of  any  •'long- 
shore craft  around  the  English  coasts,  if  they  are  all  like  this 
vessel!  Her  crowds  adventure  for  Australia  is  no  longer  the 
astonishment  I first  found  it.  One  might  fearlessly  sail  round 
the  world  in  such  a craft. 

“ Yes,^^  she  answered  softly  in  my  ear — for  surly  Thomas 
sat  hard  by — “ if  the  men  had  the  qualities  of  the  boat!  But 
how  are  they  to  reach  Australia  without  knowing  their  longi- 
tude? And  if  you  were  one  of  the  party,  would  you  trust 
Abraham's  latitude?  My  father  taught  me  navigation;  and, 
though  I am  far  from  skillful  at  it,  I know  quite  enough  to 
feel  sure  that  such  a rough  observation  as  Abraham  took  to- 
day will,  every  twenty-four  hours,  make  him  three  or  four  miles 
wrong,  even  in  his  latitude.  Where,  then,  will  the  ‘ Early 
Morn  ^ blunder  to?^^ 

“ Well,  they  are  plainly  a sensitive  crew,’^  said  I,  “ and,  if 
we  want  their  good-will,  our  business  is  to  carry  admiring 
faces,  tn  findr everything  right,  and  say  nothing.-'^ 

This  chat  was  ended  by  Abraham  joining  us. 

“ Now,  lady,^^  said  he,  “ when  would  ye  like  to  tarn  in? 
The  fore-peak’s  to  be  your’n  for  the  night.  Name  your  hour, 
and  whosoever’s  in  it’ll  have  to  clear  out.” 

“ I am  grateful,  indeed!”  she  exclaimed,  putting  her  hand 
upon  his  great  hairy  paw  in  a pretty,  caressing  way. 

- “ “ Abraham,”  said  1,  “ I hope  we  shall  meet  again  after  we 
have  separated.  I’ll  not  forget  your  kindness  to  Miss  Nielsen.  ” 

“ Say  nothen’  about  it,  sir;  say  nothen’  about  it,”  he  cried 
heartily.  “ She’s  a sailor’s  daughter,  for  all  he  warn’t  an 
Englishman.  Her  father  lies  drownded,  Mr.  Tregarthen. 
If  he  was  like  his  lass  he’ll  have  had  a good  heart,  sir,  and 
the  sort  of  countenance  one  takes  to  at  the  first  sight  o’t*  ” 


136 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


By  the  rusty  light  still  living  in  the  west  I saw  liitn  turn  his 
head  to  look  forward  and  then  aft;  then  lowering  his  voice 
into  a deep  sea  growls  he  exclaimed:  “ There’s  wan  thing  I 
should  like  to  say:  there^s  no  call  for  either  of  ye  to  take  any 
notice  along  of  old  Tommy.  His'feelings  is  all  right;  it^s  his 
vays  as  are  wrong.  Fact  is/^  and  here  he  sent  another  look 
forward  and  then  aft,  “ Tommy ^s  been  a disappointed  man 
in  his  marriages.  His  first  vife  took  to  drink,  and  was  always 
a-combing  of  his  hair  with  a three-legged  stool,  as  Jack  says. 
His  second  vife  had  the  heart  of  a flint,  spite  of  her  prowidiug 
him  with  ten  children,  fower  by  her  first  and  six  by  Tomm5^ 
Of  course  it^s  got  nothen^  to  do  with  me;  but  there  ainT  the 
loike  of  Molly  Budd — 1 mean  Tommy^s  wife — in  all  Deal — ay, 
ye  may  say  in  all  Kent — for  wickedness.  Tommy  owned  to 
me  wan  day  that  though  she’d  lost  children — ay,  and 
though  she’d  lost  good  money  tew,  he’d  never  knowed  her 
to  shed  a tear  saving  wonst.  That  was  when  she  went 
out  a-chairing.  The  master  of  the  house  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  leaving  the  beer-key  in  the  cask  for  th’  ale  to  be 
sarved  out  by  the  hupper  servant.  Molly  Budd  was  a-cleaning 
there  one  day,  when  down  comes  word  for  the  key  to  be 
drawed  out  of  the  cask,  and  never  no  more  to  be  left  in  it. 
This  startled  Molly.  She  broke  down  and  cried  for  a hour. 
Tommy  had  some  hopes  of  her  on  that,  but  she  dried  up 
arterwards,  and  has  never  showed  any  sort  of  weakness  since. 
But,  of  course,  this  is  between  you  and  me  and  the  bed-post, 
Mr.  Tregarthen.” 

“ Oh,  certainly!’^  said  I. 

“ And  now  about  the  lady’s  sleeping,”  he  continued. 

I was  anxious  to  see  her  snugly  under  cover;  but  she  was 
in  trouble  to  know  how  I was  to  get  rest.  I pointed  to  the 
open  space  under  that  overhanging  ledge  of  deck  which  1 have 
before  described,  and  told  her  that  I should  find  as  good  a 
bedroom  there  as  I needed.  So  after  some  little  discussion  it 
was  arranged  that  she  should  take  possession  of  the  fore-peak 
at  nine  o’clock,  and,  meanwhile,  Abraham  undertook  to  so 
bulkhead  the  opening  under  the  deck  with  a spare  mizzen-mast, 

Jard,  and  sail  as  to  insure  as  much  shelter  as  I should  require. 

believe  he  observed  Helga’s  solicitude  about  me,  and  proposed 
this  merely  to  please  her;  and  for  the  same  motive  I consented, 
though  1 was  very  unwilling  secretly  to  give  the  poor  honest 
fellows  any  unnecessary  trouble. 

Wljen  the  twilight  died  out,  the  night  came  down  very 
black.  A few  lean,  windy  stars  hovered  wanly  in  the  dark 
heights,  and  no  light  whatever  fell  from  the  skyj  but  the  at- 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


137 


mosphere  low  down  upon  the  ocean  was  pale  with  the  glare  of 
the  foam  that  was  plentifully  arching  from  the  heads  of  the 
seas,  and  this  vague  illumination  was  in  the  boat  to  the  degree 
that  our  figures  were  almost  visible  one  to  another.  Indeed,  a 
sort  of  wave  of  ghastly  sheen  would  pass  through  the  darkness 
amid  which  we  sat  each  time  the  lugger  buried  herself  in  the 
foam  raised  by  her  shearing  bounds,  as  though  the  dim  reflec- 
tion of  a giant  lantern  had  been  thrown  upon  us  from  on  high 
by  some  vast  shadowy  hand  searching  for  what  might  be  upon 
the  sea. 

When  nine  o’clock  arrived,  Abraham  went  forward  and 
routed  Thomas  out  of  the  fore-peak.  The  man  muttered  as 
he  came  aft  to  where  we  were,  but  I was  resolved  to  have  no 
ears  for  anything  he  might  say  at  such  a time.  A sailor  dis- 
turbed in  his  rest,  grim,  unshorn,  scarcely  awake,  with  the  nip- 
ping night  blast  to  exchange  for  his  blanket,  is  proverbially  the 
sulkiest  and  most  growling  of  human  wretches. 

“ I will  see  you  to  your  chamber  door,  Helga,”  said  I, 
laughing.  ‘‘  Abraham,  can  you  spare  the  lady  this  lantern? 
She  will  not  long  need  it.” 

“ She  can  have  it  as  long  as  she  likes,”  he  answered. 
“ Good-night  to  you,  mum,  and  I hope  you’ll  sleep  well,  I’m 
sure.  Feared  yeTl  find  the  fore-peak  a bit  noisy  arter  the 
silence  of  a big  vessel’s  cabin.  ” 

She  made  some  answer,  and  I picked  up  the  lantern  that  had 
been  placed  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat  for  us  to  sit  round,  and, 
with  my  companion,  went  clambering  over  the  thwarts  to  the 
hatch. 

“ It  is  a dark  little  hole  for  you  to  sleep  in,  Helga,”  said  I, 
holding  the  lantern  over  the  hatch  while  I peered  down,  “ but 
then — th^  time  last  night!  Our  chances  we  now  know,  but 
what  were  our  hopes?” 

We  may  be  even  safer  this  time  to-morrow  night,”  she 
answered,  “ and  rapidly  making  for  England,  let  us  pray!” 

“ Ay,  indeed !”  said  I.  “ Well,  if  you  will  get  below,  I will 
hand  you  down  the  light.  Good-night,  sleep  well,  and  God 
bless  you.” 

I grasped  and  held  her  hand,  then  let  it  go,  and  she  descend- 
ed, carrying  with  her  the  little  parcel  she  had  brought  with 
her  from  the  bark. 

I gave  her  the  lantern,  and  returned  to  smoke  a pipe  in  the 
bottom  of  the  boat  under  the  shelter  of  the  stern-sheets,  before 
crawling  to  the  sail  that  was  to  form  my  bed  under  the  over- 
hanging deck.  Thomas,  whose  watch  below  it  still  was,  was 
already  resting  under  the  ledixe.  Abraham  steered^  and  Jacob 


138 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


sat  with  a pipe  in  his  mouth  to  leeward.  1 noticed  that  one  of 
these  men  always  placed  himself  within  instant  reach  of  the 
fore-sheet.  Abraham's  talk  altogether  concerned  Helga.  lie 
asked  many  questions  about  her,  and  got  me  to  tell  for  the  sec- 
ond time  the  story  of  her  father's  death  upon  the  raft.  He 
frequently  broke  into  homefy  expressions  of  sympathy,  and 
when  1 paused,  after  telling  him  that  the  girl  was  an  orphan 
and  without  means,  he  said: 

“ Beg  pardon,  Mr.  Tregarthen;  but  might  I make  so  bold 
as  to  ask  if  so  be  as  you're  a married  man?" 

No,"  said  1,  “ 1 am  single." 

“ And  is  her  heart  her  own,  sir,  d'ye  know?"  said  he.  “ For 
as  like  as  not  there  may  be  some  young  Danish  gent  as  keeps 
company  with  her  ashore. " 

“ I can't  tell  you  that,"  said  I. 

“ If  so  be  as  her  heart's  her  own,"  said  he,  then  1 think 
even  old  Tommy  could  tell  'ee  what's  agoing  to  happen." 

“ What  do  you  mean?"  I asked. 

“ Why,  of  course,"  said  he,  “ you're  bound  to  marry  her!'^ 

As  she  was  out  of  hearing,  I could  well  afford  to  laugh. 

“ Well,"  said  1,  ‘‘  the  sea  has  been  the  cause  of  more  won- 
derful things  than  that!  Anyway,  if  I’m  to  marry  her,  you 
must  put  me  in  the  way  of  doing  so  by  sending  us  home  as 
eoon  as  you  can." 

“ Oy,"  said  he,  “ that  we'll  do,  and  I don't  reckon,  master, 
that  you'd  be  dispoged  to  wait  ontil  we've  returned  from  Aus- 
traley,  that  Tommy  and  me  and  Jacob  might  have  the  satisfac- 
tion of  drinking  your  healths  and  cutting  a caper  at  your  mar- 
riage." 

Jacob  broke  into  a short  roar  that  might  or  might  not  have 
denoted  a laugh. 

“ I shall  now  turn  in,"  said  I,  for  I am  sleepy.  But  first 
I will  see  if  Miss  Nielsen  is  in  want  of  anything,  and  bring 
the  lantern  aft  to  you." 

I went  forward  and  looked  down  the  hatch.  By  stooping,  so 
as  to  bring  my  face  on  a level  with  the  coaming,  I could  see 
the  girl.  She  had  placed  the  lantern  in  her  bunk,  and  was 
kneeling  in  prayer.  Her  mother's  picture  was  placed  behind 
the  lantern,  where  it  lay  visible  to  her,  and  she  held  the  Bible 
she  had  brought  from  the  bark;  but  that  she  could  read  it  in 
that  light  I doubted.  I supposed,  therefore,  that  she  grasped 
it  for  its  sacrcdnoss  as  an  object  and  a relic  while  she  prayed, 
as  a iLoman  Catholic  might  hold  a crucifix. 

I can  not  express  how  much  I was  affected  by  this  simple 
picture.  Not  for  a million  would  I have  wished  her  to  know 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


139 


that  1 watched  her;  and  yet,  knowing  that  she  was  wuconscious 
I was  near,  I felt  I was  no  intruder.  She  had  removed 
her  hat;  the  lantern-light  touched  her  pale  hair,  and  I could 
see  her  lips  moving  as  she  prayed,  with  a frequent  lifting  of 
her  soft  eyes.  But  the  beauty,  the  wonder,  the  impressiveness 
of  this  picture  of  maidenly  devotion  came  to  it  from  v/hat 
surrounded  it.  The  little  fore-peak,  dimly  irradiated,  showed 
like  some  fancy  of  an  old  painter  upon  the  shadows  and  lights 
of  whose  masterly  canvas  lies  the  gloom  of  time.  The  strong 
wind  was  full  of  the  noise  of  warring  waters,  and  of  its  own 
wild  crying;  the  foam  of  the  surge  roared  about  the  lugger^s 
cleaving  bows,  and  to  this  was  to  be  added  the  swift  leaps,  the 
level  poising,  the  shooting,  downward  rushes  of  the  little  struct- 
ure upon  that  wide,  dark  breast  of  wind-swept  Atlantic. 

She  rose  to  her  feet,  and,  stooping  always,  for  her  stature 
exceeded  the  height  of  the  upper  deck,  she  carefully  replaced 
the  Bible  and  picture  in  their  cover.  1 withdrew,  and,  after 
waiting  a minute  or  two,  I approached  again  and  called  down 
to  ask  if  all  was  well  with  her. 

“ Yes,  Hugh,^^  she  answered,  coming  under  the  hatch  with 
the  lantern.  ‘‘  I have  made  my  bed.  It  was  easily  made. 
Will  you  take  this  light?  The  men  may  want  it,  and  I shall 
not  need  to  see  down  bere.^^ 

I grasped  the  lantern,  and  told  her  I would  hold  it  in  the 
hatch  that  it  might  light  her  while  she  got  into  her  bunk. 

Good-night,  Hugh,^^  said  she,  and  presently  called,  in  her 
clear,  gentle  voice,  to  let  me  know  that  she  was  lying  down; 
on  which  I took  the  lantern  aft,  and,  without  more  ado, 
crawled  under  the  platform,  or  raft,  as  the  Deal  boatmen  called 
it,  crept  into  a sail,  and  in  a few  moments  was  sound  asleep. 

And  now  for  three  days,  incredible  as  it  will  appear  to  those 
who  are  acquainted  with  that  part  of  the  sea  which  the  lugger 
was  traversing,  we  sighted  nothing — nothing,  I mean,  that 
provided  us  with  the  slenderest  opportunity  of  speaking  it.  At 
very  long  intervals,  it  would  be  a little  streak  of  canvas  on  the 
starboard  or  port  sea-line,  or  some  smudge  of  smoke  from  a 
steamer  whose  funnel  was  below  the  horizon;  nothing  more, 
and  these  so  remote  that  the  dim  apparitions  were  as  useless  to 
us  as  though  they  had  never  been. 

The  wind  held  northerly,  and  on  the  Friday  and  Saturday 
it  blew  freshly,  and  in  those  hours  Abraham  reckoned  that  the 
‘‘  Early  Morn  had  gone  a good  two  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  in  every  day,  counting  from  noon  to  noon.  I was  forever 
searching  the  sea,  and  Helga^s  gaze  was  as  constant  as  mine; 
until  the  eternal  barrenness  of  the  sinuous  line  of  the  ocean 


140 


MY  Danish  swecthearT. 


if  id  need  a kind  of  heart-sickness  in  me,  and  1 would  dismount 
from  the  thwart  in  a passion  of  vexation  and  disappointment, 
asking  what  had  happened  that  no  ship  showed?  Into  what 
part  of  the  sea  had  we  drifted?  Could  this  veritably  be  the 
(^oufines  of  the  Atlantic  off  the  Biscayan  coast  and  waters?  or 
liad  we  been  transported  by  some  devil  into  an  unnavigated 
irdct  of  ocean  on  the  other  side  of  the  world? 

“ There^s  no  want  of  ships, Abraham  said.  ‘‘The  cuss 
of  the  matter  is,  we  don^t  fall  in  with  them.  S’elp  me,  if  I 
could  only  find  one  to  give  me  a chance,  Fd  chivey  her  even 
if  she  showed  the  canvas  of  a E^yal  Jarge.""^ 

“ If  this  goes  on  you^ll  have  to  carry  us  to  Australia,’^  said 
1,  guessing  from  my  spirits  as  I spoke  that  I was  carrying  an 
uncommonly  long  and  dismal  countenance. 

“ Hope  not,^""  exclaimed  sour  Tommy,  who  was  at  the  helm 
at  this  time  of  conversation.  “ 'Tain^t  that  we  objects  to 
your  company;  but  whereas  the  grub  for  five  souls  a-coming 
from?’^ 

“ Don^t  say  nothen^  about  that,^^  said  Abraham,  sharply. 
“ Both  the  gent  and  the  lady  brought  their  own  grub  along 
with  them.  That  ye  know.  Tommy,  and  I allow  that  ye  hain't 
found  their  ham  bad  eating  either.  They  came/^  he  added, 
softening  as  he  looked  at  his  mate,  “ like  a poor  man^s  twins, 
each  with  a loaf  clapped  by  the  angels  on  to  its  back.’^ 

It  is  true  enough  that  the  provisions  which  had  been  re- 
moved from  the  raft  would  have  sufficed  Helga  and  me — well, 
I dare  say,  for  a whole  month,  and  perhaps  six  weeks,  but  for 
the  three  of  a crew  falling  to  the  stock;  and  therefore  I was 
not  concerned  by  the  reflection  that  we  were  eating  into  the 
poor  fellows^  slender  larder.  But,  for  all  that,  Thomas’s  re- 
mark touched  me  closely.  I felt  that  if  the  three  fellows,  hearty 
and  sailorly  as  were  Abraham  and  Jacob — 1 say,  1 felt  that  if 
t!iese  three  men  were  not  already  weary  of  us  they  must  soon 
become  so,  more  particularly  if  it  should  happen  that  they  met 
with  no  ship  to  supply  them  with  what  they  might  require;  in 
which  case  they  would  have  to  make  for  the  nearest  port,  a 
delay  they  would  attribute  to  us,  and  that  might  set  them 
grumbling  in  their  gizzards,  and  render  us  both  miserable 
until  we  got  ashore. 

However,  1 was  no  necromancer;  I could  not  conjure  up 
ships,  and  staring  at  the  sea-line  did  not  help  us;  but  I very 
well  remember  that  that  time  of  waiting  and  of  expectation 
and  of  disappointment  lay  very  heavily  upon  my  spirits.  There 
was  something  so  stranger  in  the  desolation  of  this  sea  that  I be- 
came melancholy  and  imaginative,  and  I remember  that  I 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


141 


foreboded  a dark  issue  to  my  extraordinary  adventure  with 
Helga,  insomuch  that  I took  to  heart  a secret  conviction  1 
should  never  again  see  my  mother,  nay,  that  I should  never 
again  see  my  home. 

Sunday  morning  came.  1 found  a fine  bright  day  when  1 
crawled  out  of  my  sail  under  the  overhanging  ledge.  The 
wind  had  come  out  of  the  east  in  the  night,  and  the  “ Early 
Morn,^^  with  her  sheet  aft,  was  buzzing  over  the  long  swell 
that  came  flowing  and  brimming  to  her  side  in  lines  of  radi- 
ance in  the  flashing  wake  of  the  sun.  Jacob  was  at  the  tiller, 
and,  on  my  emerging,  he  instantly  pointed  ahead.  I jumped 
on  to  a thwart,  and  perceived  directly  over  the  bows  the  lean- 
ing, alabaster-like  shaft  of  a ship^s  canvas. 

How  is  she  steering?’^  I cried. 

“ Slap  for  us/^  he  answered. 

‘‘ Come!^^  1 exclaimed,  with  a sudden  delight,  “we  shall 
be  giving  you  a farewell  shake  of  the  hand  at  last,  I hope. 
YouTl  have  to  signal  her,^^  I went  on,  looking  at  the  lugger^s 
masthead.  “ What  colors  will  you  fly  to  make  her  know  your 
wants?"^ 

“ Ye  see  that  there  pole?^^  exclaimed  Thomas,  in  a grunting 
voice,  pointing  with  a shovel-ended  forefinger  to  the  spare 
booms  along  the  side  of  the  boat.  1 nodded.  “Well,'^  said 
he,  “I  suppose  you  know  what  the  Jack  is?^^ 

“ Certainly,  said  I. 

“ Well,’^  he  repeated,  “ we  seizes  the  Jack  on  to  that  there 
pole  and  hangs  it  over,  and  if  that  don^t  stop  ^em  it^ll  be 
^cause  they  have  a cargo  of  wheat  aboard,  the  fumes  of 
which^ll  have  entered  their  eyes  and  struck  ^em  bloind.^^ 

“ That’s  so,”  said  Jacob,  with  a nod. 

Just  then  Abraham  came  from  under  the  deck,  and  in  an- 
other moment  Helga  rose  through  the  little  hatch,  and  they 
both  joined  us. 

“ At  last,  Helga!”  I cried,  with  a triumphant  face,  point- 
ing. 

She  looked  with  her  clear  blue  eyes  for  a little  while  in  silence 
at  the  approaching  vessel,  as  though  to  make  sure  of  the  di- 
rection she  was  heading  in,  then,  clasping  her  hands,  she  ex- 
claimed, drawing  a breath  like  a sigh,  “ Yes,  at  last.  Hugh, 
your  home  is  not  so  very  far  off  now.” 

“ What’s  she  loike?”  said  Abraham,  bringing  his  knuckles 
out  of  his  eyes  and  staring. 

He  went  to  the  locker  for  a little,  old-fashioned,  ’longshore 
telescope,  pointed  it,  and  said,  “ A bit  of  a bark.  A furriner.’^ 


142 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


He  peered  again,  “A  Hamburger/^  cried  he.  “Look, 
Tommy 

The  man  put  the  glass  to  his  eye  and  leaned  against  the  rail, 
and  his  mouth  lay  with  a sour  curl  under  the  little  telescope 
as  he  stared  through  it. 

“Yes,  a whoite  hull  and  a Hamburger,^^  said  he,  “and 
she^s  coming  along  tew.  Therein  be  no  time,  1 allow,  to  bile 
the  coflee-pot  afore  she^s  abreast,’^  he  added,  casting  a hun- 
gry, morose  eye  toward  the  little  cooking-stove. 

“ Ye  can  loight  the  foire,  Tommy,^^  said  Abraham,  “ whoilst 
1 signlize  her,^^  saying  which  he  took  an  English  Jack  out  of 
that  locker  in  which  he  kept  the  soap,  towels,  and,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  pretty  well  all  the  crew^s  little  belongings,  and, 
having  secured  the  flag  to  the  end  of  the  pole,  he  thrust  it  over 
the  side  and  fell  to  motioning  with  it,  continuing  to  do  so  until 
it  was  impossible  to  doubt  that  the  people  of  the  little  bark 
had  beheld  the  signal.  He  then  let  the  ; pole  with  the  flag 
flying  upon  it  rest  upon  the  rail,  and  took  hold  of  the  fore- 
halliards in  readiness  to  let  the  sail  drop. 

I awaited  the  approach  of  the  bark  with  breathless  anxiety. 
1 never  questioned  for  a moment  that  she  would  take  us 
aboard,  and  my  thoughts  flew  ahead  to  the  moment  when 
Helga  and  I should  be  safely  in  her:  when  we  should  be  look- 
ing round  and  finding  a stout  little  ship  under  our  feet,  the 
lugger  with  her  poor  plucky  Deal  sailors  standing  away  from  us 
to  the  southward,  and  the  horizon  past  which  lay  the  coast  of 
Old  England  fair  over  the  bows. 

“ Shove  us  close  alongside,  Jacob,^^  cried  Abraham. 

“ Shall  ^ee  hook  on,  Abraham?^’  inquired  Jacob. 

“ No  call  to  it,^^  answered  Abraham.  “ We^ll  down  lug 
and  hail  her.  She^ll  back  her  tawps,  and  1^11  put  the  parties 
aboard  in  the  punt.^^ 

“ I have  left  my  parcel  in  the  fore-peak, said  Helga,  and 
was  2foing  for  it. 

“ Tm  nimbler  than  you  can  be  now,  Helga,  said  1,  smil- 
ing, and  meaning  that  now  she  was  in  her  girlish  attire  she  had 
not  my  activity. 

I jumped  forward,  and  plunged  down  the  hatch,  took  the 
parcel  out  of  the  bunk,  and  returned  with  it,  all  in  such  a 
wild  feverish  hurry  that  one  might  have  supposed  the  lugger 
was  sinking,  and  that  a moment  of  time  might  signify  life  or 
death  to  me.  Abraham  grinned,  but  made  no  remark. 
Thomas,  on  his  knees  before  tlio  stove,  was  sulkily  blowing  at 
gome  shavings  he  had  kindled.  Jacob,  with  a wooden  face  at 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAET.  148 

the  tiller,  was  keeping  the  bows  of  the  ‘‘  Early  Morn  on  a 
line  with  the  oncoming  vessel. 

The  bark  was  under  a full  breast  of  canvas,  and  was  heeling 
prettily  to  the  pleasant  breeze  of  wind  that  was  gushing  brill- 
iantly out  of  the  eastern  range  of  heaven  made  glorious  by  the 
soaring  sun.  Her  hull  sat  white  as  milk  upon  the  dark-blue 
water,  and  her  canvas  rose  in  squares  which  resembled  mother- 
of-pearl  with  the  intermixture  of  shadow  and  flashing  light  upon 
them  occasioned  by  her  rolling,  so  that  the  cloths  looked  shot 
like  watered  silk  or  like  the  inside  of  an  oyster  shell.  But  it 
was  distance  on  top  of  the  delight  that  her  coming  raised  in 
me  which  gave  her  the  enchantment  I found  in  her,  for,  as 
she  approached,  her  hull  lost  its  snow-like  glare  and  showed 
somewhat  dingily  with  rusty  stains  from  the  scupper-holes. 
Her  canvas,  too,  lost  its  symmetry  and  exhibited  an  ill-set  pile 
of  cloths,  most  of  the  clews  straining  at  a distance  from  the 
yard-arm  sheave-holes,  and  I also  took  notice  of  the  disfigure- 
ment of  a stump-foretopgallant-mast. 

Dirty  as  a Portugee,^^  said  Abraham;  “ yet  she^s  Jarman 
all  the  same.^^ 

“ I never  took  kindly  to  the  Jarmans,  myself,^^  said  Jacob; 
“ they^re  a shoving  people,  but  they  aren^t  clean.  Give  me 
the  Dutch.  What’s  to  beat  their  cheeses?  There^s  nothing 
made  in  England  in  the  cheese  line  as  aquils  them  Dutch  can- 
non-balls, all  pink  outside  and  all  cream  hin.^^ 

‘‘  Do  you  mean  by  a Hamburger  a Hamburg  ship?^^  asked 
Helga. 

“ Yes,  lady,  that^s  right,^^  answered  Abraham. 

Then  she^s  bound  to  Hamburg,^^  said  the  girl. 

Ask  yourself  the  question,  answered  Abraham — which  is 
the  Deal  boatmen  ^s  way  of  saying  yes. 

She  looked  at  me. 

“ It  will  be  all  the  same,^^  said  I,  interpreting  the  glance; 

England  is  but  over  the  way  from  Hamburg.  Let  us  be 
homeward-bound  in  any  case.  We  have  made  southing  enough, 
Helga. 

“ Tommy  sung  out  Abraham,  give  that  there  Jack  an- 
other flourish,  will  ye?^^ 

The  man  did  so,  with  many  strange  contortions  of  his  pow- 
erful frame,  and  then  put  down  the  pole  and  returned  to  the 
stove. 

“ There  don^t  seem  much  life  aboard  her,^^  said  Jacob,  ey- 
ing the"  bark.  ‘‘  I can  only  count  wan  head  ower  the  fo^k^sle 
rail/^ 


144 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ Up  helium,  Jacob!^^  bawled  Abraham,  and  as  he  said  the 
words  he  let  go  the  fore-halliards,  and  down  came  the  sail. 

The  lugger,  with  nothing  showing  but  her  little  mizzen,  lost 
way,  and  rose  and  fell  quietly  beam-on  to  the  bark,  whose 
head  was  directly  at  us,  as  though  she  must  cut  us  down.  When 
she  was  within  a few  cables^  length  of  us  she  slightly  shifted 
her  helm  and  drew  out.  A man  sprung  on  to  her  forecastle 
rail  and  yelled  at  us,  brandishing  his  arms  in  a motioning  way, 
as  though  in  abuse  of  us  for  getting  into  the  road.  We 
strained  our  ears. 

“ What  do  ^ee  sayp^^growled  Abraham,  looking  at  Helga. 

“ I do  not  understand  him,^^  she  answered. 

“ Bark  ahoy!^^  roared  Abraham. 

The  man  on  the  forecastle-head  fell  silent,  and  watched  us 
over  his  folded  arms. 

, “ Bark  ahoy!^^  yelled  Jacob. 

The  vessel  was  now  showing  her  length  to  us.  On  Jacob 
shouting  a man  came  very  quietly  to  the  bulwarks  near  the 
mizzen  rigging  and,  with  sluggish  motions,  got  upon  the  rail, 
where  he  stood  holding  on  by  a back-stay,  gazing  at  us  lifelessly. 
The  vessel  was  so  close  that  I could  distinguish  every  feature  of 
the  fellow,  and  I see  him  now,  as  1 write,  with  his  fur  cap  and 
long  coat  and  half  boots  and  beard  like  oakum.  The  vessel 
was  manifestly  steered  by  a wheel  deep  behind  the  deck- 
house, and  neither  helm  nor  helmsman  was  visible — no  living 
being,  indeed,  saving  the  motionless  figure  on  the  forecastle  head 
and  the  equally  lifeless  figure  holding  on  by  the  backstay  aft. 

“ Bark  ahoy  thundered  Abraham.  “ Back  your  tawpsd, 
will  ^ee?  Kerens  a lady  and  gent  as  we  wants  to  put  aboard 
ye:  they T*e  in  distress.  They\e  bin  shipwreckt— they  wants 
to  git  home.  Heave  to,  for  Gord^s  sake,  if  so  be  as  you^re  men  !” 

Neither  figure  showed  any  indications  of  vitality. 

“ What!  are  they  corpses?^^  cried  Abraham. 

“ No,  they^re  wuss — they^re  Jarmans!^’  answered  Jacob, 
spitting  fiercely. 

On  a sudden  the  fellow  who  was  aft  nodded  at  us,  then 
kissed  his  hand,  solemnly  dismounted,  and  vanished,  leaving 
no  one  in  sight  but  the  man  forward,  who  a minute  later  disap- 
peared also. 

Abraham  drew  a deep  breath  and  looked  at  me.  His  coun- 
tenance suddenly  changed.  His  face  crimsoned  with  temper, 
and,  with  a strange,  ungainly,  ’longshore  plunge  he  sprung 
on  top  of  the  gunwale,  supporting  himself  by  a grip  of  the 
burton  of  the  mizzen-mast  with  one  hand  while  he  shook  his 
other  fist  in  a very  ecstasy  of  passion  at  the  retreatino-  vesseL 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


145 


‘‘Call  yourselves  he  roared.  “Til  have  the  law 

along  of  ye!  ltd'll  be  me  as^Il  report  ye!  Don^t  think  as  1 
can^t  spell.  H,  A,  N,  S,  A — Hansa.  There  it  is,  wrote 
big  as  life  on  your  blooming  starn!  1^11  remember  ye!  You 
sausage-eaters — you  scowbankers — you  scaramouches — you 
varmint!  Call  yourselves  sailors?  Only  gi^  me  a chance  of 
getting  alongside  !^^ 

He  continued  to  rage  in  this  fashion,  interlarding  his  lan- 
guage with  words  which  sent  Helga  to  the  boat^s  side,  and  held 
her  there  with  averted  face;  but,  all  the  same,  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  "keep  one’s  gravity.  Vexed,  maddened,  indeed,  as  I was 
by  the  disappointment,  it  was  as  much  as  I could  do  to  hold 
my  countenance.  The  absurdity  lay  in  this  raving  at  a vessel 
that  had  passed  swiftly  out  of  hearing,  and  upon  whose  deck 
not  a living  soul  was  visible. 

Having  exhausted  all  that  he  was  able  to  think  of  in  the 
way  of  abuse,  Abraham  dismounted,  flung  his  cap  into  the 
bottom  of  the  boat,  and,  drying  his  brow  by  passing  the  whole 
length  of  his  arm  along  it,  he  exclaimed: 

“ There — now  I’ve  given  ’em  something  to  think  of!” 

“ Why,  there  was  ne’er  a soul  to  hear  a word  ye  said,”  said 
Thomas,  who  was  still  busy  at  the  stove,  without  looking  up. 

“ See  here!”  shouted  Abraham,  rounding  upon  him  with 
the  heat  of  a man  glad  of  another  excuse  to  quarrel,  Dorn’t 
you  have  nothen’  to  say.  No  sarce  from  you,  and  so  I tells 
ye.  I know  all  about  ye.  When  did  ye  pay  your  rent  last, 
eh?  Answer  me  that!”  he  sneered. 

Oh,  that’s  it,  is  it?  that’s  the  time  o’  day,  eh?”  growled 
Thomas,  looking  slowly  but  fiercely  round  upon  Abraham,  and 
stolidly  rising  into  a menacing  posture,  that  was  made  wholly 
ridiculous  by  the  clergyman’s  coat  he  wore.  “ And  what’s 
my  rent  got  to  do  with  you?  ’T  all  events,  if  I am  a bit  be- 
hoindhand  in  my  rent,  moy  farder  was  never  locked  up  for 
six  months.” 

“ Say  for  smuggling,  Tommy,  say  for  smuggling,  or  them 
parties  as  is  a-listening’Il  think  the  ould  man  did  something 
wrong,”  said  Jacob. 

Ileiga  took  me  by  the  arm. 

“ Oh,  Hugh,  silence  them— they  will  come  to  blows;” 

“ No,  no,”  said  I,  quickly,  in  a low  voice.  “ I know  this 
type  of  men.  There  must  be  much  more  shouting  than  this 
before  they  double  up  their  fists.” 

Still  it  was  a stupid  passage  of  temper,  fit  only  to  be  quickly 
ejiJed. 

“ Come,  Abraham,”  I cried,  waiting  till  he  had  finished 


14G 


M 'y  JJAIn  JSH  SWKKTIJEAHT. 


roaring  out  some  farther  offensive  question  to  Thomas:  “let 
us  get  sail  on  the  boat  and  make  an  end  of  this.  The  trial  of 
temper  should  bo  mine,  not  yours.  Luck  seems  against  the 
lady  and  me;  and  let  me  beg  of  you,  as  a good  fellow  and  an 
English  seaman,  not  to  frighten  Miss  Nielsen.^’ 

“ What  does  Tommy  want  to  sarce  me  for?^’  said  he,  still 
breathing  defiance  at  his  mate  out  of  his  large  nostrils  and 
blood-red  visage. 

“ What^s  my  rent  got  to  do  with  you?^^  shouted  the  other. 

“ And  what's  moy  father  got  to  do  with  you?"  bawled  Ab- 
raham. 

“ 1 say,  Jacob,"  I cried,  “ for  God's  sake  let's  tail  on  to 
the  halliards  and  start  afresh.  There's  no  good  in  all  this!" 

“ Come  along,  Abey,  come  along,  Tommy!"  bawled  Jacob. 
“ Droy  up,  mates!  More'n  enough's  been  said;"  and  with 
that  he  laid  hold  of  the  halliards,  and,  without  another  word, 
Abraham  and  Thomas  seized  the  rope  too,  and  the  sail  was 
mastheaded. 

Abraham  went  to  the  tiller,  the  other  two  went  to  work  to 
get  breakfast,  and  now,  in  a silence  that  was  not  a little  re- 
freshing after  the  coarse  hoarse  clamor  of  the  quarrel,  the  lug- 
ger buzzed  onward  afresh. 

“We  shall  be  more  fortunate  next  time,"  said  Helga, 
looking  wistfully  at  me;  and  well  I knew  there  was  no  want 
of  worry  in  my  face;  for  now  there  was  peace  in  the  boat  the 
infamous  cold-blooded  indifference  of  the  rogues  we  had  just 
passed  made  me  feel  half  mad. 

“ We  might  have  been  starving,"  said  I;  “ we  might  have 
been  perishing  for  the  want  of  a drink  of  water,  and  still  the 
ruffians  would  have  treated  us  so. " 

“It  is  but  waiting  a little  longer,  Hugh,"  said  Helga, 
softly. 

“Ay,  but  how  much  longer,  Helga?"  said  I.  “Must  we 
wait  for  Cape  Town,  or  perhaps  Australia?" 

“ Mr.  Tregarthen,  don't  let  imagination  run  away  with  ye," 
exclaimed  Abraham,  in  a voice  of  composure  that  was  not  a 
little  astonishing  after  his  recent  outbreak;  though,  having  a 
tolerably  intimate  knowledge  of  the  'longshore  character,  and 
being  very  well  aware  that  the  words  these  fellows  hurl  at  one 
another  mean  very  little,  and  commonly  end  in  nothing — 
unless  the  men  are  drunk — I was  not  very  greatly  surprised  by 
the  change  in  our  friend.  “ ddiorc's  nothen'  that  upsets  the 
moind  quicker  than  imagination.  I'll  gi'  yea  yarn.  There's 
an  old  chap,  of  the  name  of  Billy  Buttress,  as  crawls  about 
our  beach.  A little  grandson  o’  his  took  the  glasses  out  o'  his 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


147 


spectacles  by  way  amusiug  hisself.  When  old  Billy  puts 
^em  on  to  read  with  he  sings  out,  " God  bless  me,  Oi^m  gone 
bloiud!^  and  trembling,  and  all  of  a clam,  as  the  saying  is,  he 
outs  with  his  handkerchief  to  woipe  the  glasses,  thinking  it 
might  be  dirt  as  hindered  him  from  seeing,  and  then  he  cries 
out,  ‘ Lor^  now,  if  I ain^t  lost  my  feelingr  He  wasn^t  to  be 
comforted  till  they  sent  for  a pint  o’  ale  and  showed  him  that 
his  glasses  had  been  took  out.  That’s  imagination,  master. 
Don’t  you  be  afeered.  We’ll  be  setting  ye  aboard  a homeward- 
hounder  afore  long.” 

By  the  time  the  fellows  had  got  breakfast,  the  hull  of  the 
hark  astern  was  out  of  sight;  nothing  showed  of  her  but  a 
little  hovering  glance  of  canvas,  and  the  sea-line  swept  from 
her  to  ahead  of  us  in  a bare  unbroken  girdle. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

A S A I L OR  ’ S DEATH. 

The  day  slipped  away;  there  were  no  more  disputes; 
Thomas  went  to  lie  down,  and,  when  Jacob  took  the  tiller, 
Abraham  pulled  a little  book  out  of  his  locker  and  read  it, 
with  his  lips  moving,  holding  it  out  at  arm’s  length,  as  though 
it  were  a daguerreotype  that  was  only  discernible  in  a certain 
light.  I asked  him  the  name  of  the  book. 

“ The  Boible,”  said  he.  It’s  the  Sabbath,  master,  and  I 
always  read  a chapter  of  this  here  book  on  Sundays.” 

Helga  started. 

‘‘  It  is  Sunday,  indeed!”  she  exclaimed.  I had  forgotten 
it.  How  swiftly  do  the  days  come  round!  It  was  a week  last 
night  since  we  left  the  bay,  and  this  day  week  my  father  was 
alive — my  dear  father  was  alive!” 

She  opened  the  parcel  and  took  out  the  little  Bible  that  had 
belonged  to  her  mother.  I had  supposed  it  was  in  Danish,  but 
on  my  taking  it  from  her  I found  it  an  English  Bible.  But 
then  1 recollected  that  her  mother  had  been  English.  I asked 
her  to  read  aloud  to  me,  and  she  did  so,  pronouncing  every 
word  in  a clear,  sweet  voice.  I recollect  it  was  a chapter  out 
of  the  New  Testament,  and  while  she  read  Abraham  put  down 
his  book  to  listen,  and  Jacob  leaned  forward  from  the  tiller 
with  a straining  ear. 

In  this  ladiion  the  time  passed. 

I went  to  my  miserable  bed  of  spare  sail  under  the  over- 
hanging deck  shortly  after  nine  o’clock  lhat  night.  This  un- 
sheltered opening  was  truly  a cold,  windy,  miserable  bedroom 


148 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


for  a man  who  could  not  in  any  way  claim  that  ho  was  used 
to  hardship.  Indeed,  the  wretchedness  of  the  accommodation 
was  as  much  a cause  as  any  other  condition  of  our  situation  of 
my  wild,  headlong  impatience  to  get  away  from  the  lugger 
and  sail  for  home  in  a ship  that  would  find  me  shelter  and  a 
bed  and  room  to  move  in,  and  those  bare  conveniences  of  life 
which  were  lacking  aboard  the  Early  Morn.^^ 

Well,  as  I have  said,  shortly  after  nine  o’clock  on  that  Sun- 
day, I bid  good-night  to  Abraham,  who  was  steering  the  vessel, 
and  entered  my  sleeping  abode,  where  Jacob  was  lying  rolled 
up  in  a blanket,  snoring  heavily.  It  was  then  a dark  night, 
but  the  wind  was  scant,  and  the  water  smooth,  and  but  little 
motion  of  swell  in  it.  I had  looked  for  a star,  but  there  was 
none  to  be  seen,  and  then  I had  looked  for  a ship’s  light,  but 
the  dusk  stood  like  a wall  of  blackness  within  a musket-shot 
of  the  lugger’s  sides — for  that  was  about  as  far  as  one  could 
see  the  dim  crawling  of  the  foam  to  windward  and  its  receding 
glimmer  on  the  other  hand — and  there  was  not  the  faintest 
point  of  green  or  red  or  white  anywhere  visible. 

I lay  awake  for  some  time:  sleep  could  make  but  little  head- 
way against  the  battery  of  snorts  and  gasps  which  the  Deal 
boatman,  lying  close  beside  me,  opposed  to  it.  My  mind  also 
was  uncommonly  active  with  worry  and  anxiety.  I was 
dwelling  constantly  upon  my  mother,  recalling  her  as  I had 
last  seen  her  by  the  glow  of  the  fire  in  her  little  parlor  when  I 
gave  her  that  last  kiss  and  ran  out  of  the  house.  It  is  eight 
days  ago,  thought  I;  and  it  seemed  incredible  that  the  time 
should  have  thus  fied.  Then  I thought  of  Helga,  the  anguish 
of  heart  the  poor  girl  had  suffered,  her  heroic  acceptance  of  her 
fate,  her  simple  piety,  her  friendlessness  and  her  future. 

In  this  way  was  my  mind  occupied  when  I fell  asleep,  and  I 
afterward  knew  that  I must  have  lain  for  about  an  hour 
wrapped  in  the  heavy  slumber  that  comes  to  a weary  man  at 
sea. 

I was  awakened  by  a sound  of  the  crashing  and  splintering 
of  wood.  This  was  instantly  succeeded  by  a loud  and  fearful 
cry,  accompanied  by  the  noise  of  a heavy  splash,  immediately 
followed  by  hoarse  shouts.  One  of  the  voices  I believed  was 
Abraham’s,  but  the  blending  of  the  distressed  and  terrified 
bawlings  rendered  them  confounding,  and  scarcely  distinguish- 
able. It  was  pit(*di  dark  where  I lay.  I got  on  to  my  knees 
to  crawl  out;  but  some  spare  sail  that  Abraham  had  contrived 
us  a shelter  for  m(^  had  slipped  from  its  position,  and  ob- 
structed me,  and  f lay  upon  my  knees  wrestling  for  a few 
minutes  before  i could  free  myself.  In  this  time  my  belief 


ut  Mmsn  sweethear!^. 


149 


was  that  the  lugger  bad  been  in  collision  with  some  black 
shadow  of  ship  invisible  to  the  helmsman  in  the  darkness,  and 
that  she  might  be  now,  even  while  I kneeled  wrestling  with 
the  sail,  going  down  under  us,  with  Helga,  perhaps,  still  in 
the  forepeak.  This  caused  me  to  struggle  furiously,  and  pres- 
ently I got  clear  of  the  blinding  and  hugging  folds  of  the  can- 
vas; but  1 was  almost  spent  with  fear  and  exertion. 

Some  one  continued  to  shout,  and  by  the  character  of  his 
cries  I gathered  that  he  was  hailing  a vessel  close  to.  It  was 
blowing  a sharp  squall  of  wind,  and  raining  furiously.  The 
darkness  was  that  of  the  inside  of  a mine,  and  all  that  I could 
see  was  the  figure  of  a boatman  leaning  over  the  side  and 
holding  the  lantern  (that  was  kept  burning  all  night)  on  a 
level  with  the  gunwale  while  he  shouted,  and  then  listened, 
and  then  shouted  again. 

What  has  happened!’^  I cried. 

The  voice  of  Jacob,  though  I could  not  see  him,  answered, 
in  a tone  I shall  never  forget  for  the  misery  and  consternation 
of  it: 

“ The  foremast^s  carried  away  and  knocked  poor  old  Tom- 
my overboard.  He^sdrownded!  he’sdrownded!  Hedon^tmake 
no  answer.  His  painted  clothes  and  boots  have  took  him 
down  as  if  he  was  a dipsy  lead.^^ 

“ Can  he  swim?^^  I cried. 

‘‘  No,  sir,  no!^^ 

I sprung  to  where  Abraham  overhung  the  rail. 

“ Will  he  be  lying  fouled  by  the  gear  over  the  side,  do  you 
think?’’  I cried  to  the  man. 

No,  sir,”  answered  Abraham;  “ he  drifted  clear.  He 
sung  out  once  as  he  went  astern.  AVhat  a thing  to  happen! 
Can’t  launch  the  punt  with  the  lugger  a wreck,”  he  added, 
talking  as  though  he  thought  aloud  in  his  misery.  “We’d 
stand  to  lose  the  lugger  if  we  launched  the  punt.” 

“ Listen!”  shouted  Jacob,  and  he  sent  his  voice  in  a bull- 
like roar  into  the  blackness  astern:  “ Tom-mee!” 

There  was  nothing  to  be  heard  but  the  shrilling  of  the 
sharp-edged  squall  rushing  athwart  the  boat,  that  now  lay 
beam  on  to  it,  and  the  slashing  noise  of  the  deluge  of  rain 
horizontally  streaming,  and  the  grinding  of  the  wrecked  gear 
alongside  with  frequent  sharp  slaps  of  the  rising  sea  against 
the  bends  of  the  lugger,  and  the  fierce  snarling  of  melting  heads 
of  waters  suddenly  aud  savagely  vexed  and  flashed  into  spray 
while  curling. 

“ What  is  it?”  cried  the  voice  of  Helga  in  my  ear. 

“ Ah,  thank  Heaven,  you  are  safe!”  I cried,  feeling  for  her 


ISO 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAKT. 


hand  and  grasping  it  “A  dreadful  thing  has  happened. 
The  lugger  has  been  dismasted,  and  the  fall  of  the  spar  has 
knocked  the  man  Thomas  overboard/^ 

“ He  may  be  swimming!^"  she  exclaimed. 

‘‘No!  no!  no!'^  growled  Abraham,  in  a voice  hoarse  with 
grief.  “He’s  gone~he’s  gone!  We  shall  never  see  him 
again.”  Then  his  note  suddenly  changed.  “Jacob,  tho 
raffle  alongside  must  be  got  in  at  wo  list:  let’s  bear  a hand 
afore  the  sea  jumps  aboard.  Lady,  will  ye  hold  the  loight? 
Mr.  Tregarthen,  we  shall  want  you  to  help  us.” 

“ Willingly!”  I cried. 

I remembered  at  that  moment  that  my  oilskin  coat  lay  in 
the  side  of  the  boat  close  to  where  I stood.  I stooped  and  felt 
it,  and  in  a moment  I had  whipped  it  over  Helga’s  shoulders, 
for  she  was  now  holding  the  lantern,  and  1 had  her  clear  in 
my  sight.  It  would  be  a godsend  to  her,  1 knew,  in  the  wet 
that  was  now  sluicing  past  us,  and  that  must  speedily  have 
soaked  her  to  the  skin,  clad  as  she  was. 

For  the  next  few  minutes  all  was  bustle  and  hoarse  shouts. 
I see  little  Helga,  now,  hanging  over  the  side  and  swinging 
the  lantern,  that  its  light  might  touch  the  wreckage;  I see  tho 
crystals  of  rain  flashing  past  the  lantern  and  blinding  the  glass 
of  it  with  wet;  I feel  again  the  rush  of  the  fierce  squall  upon 
my  face,  making  breathing  a labor,  while  I grab  hold  of  the 
canvas,  and  help  the  men  to  drag  the  great,  sodden  heavy  sail 
into  the  boat.  We  worked  desperately,  and,  as  I have  said,  in 
a few  minutes  we  had  got  the  whole  of  the  sail  out  of  the 
water;  but  the  mast  was  too  heavy  to  handle  in  the  blackness, 
and  it  was  left  to  float  clear  of  us  by  the  halliards  till  daylight 
should  come. 

We  were  wet  through,  and  chilled  to  the  heart  besides — I 
speak  of  myself,  at  least — not  more  by  the  sharp  bite  of  that 
black,  wet  squall  than  by  the  horror  occasioned  by  the  sudden 
loss  of  a man,  by  the  thought  of  one  as  familiar  to  the  sight 
as  hourly  association  could  make  him,  who  was  just  now  liv- 
ing and  talking — lying  cold  and  still,  sinking  fathoms  deep 
into  the  heart  of  that  dark  measureless  profound  on  whose 
surface  the  lugger — in  all  probability  the  tiniest  ark  at  that 
moment  afloat  in  the  oceans  she  was  attempting  to  traverse — 
was  tumbling. 

“Haul  aft  the  mizzen-sheet,  Jacob!”  said  Abraham  in  a 
voice  hoarse  indeed,  but  marked  with  depression  also.  “ Ye 
can  sf3curo  the  tiller  too.  She  must  loie  as  she  is  till  we  can 
see  what  we’re  about.” 

The  man  went  aft  with  a lantern.  He  speedily  executed 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  161 

Abraham orders;  but  by  the  aid  of  the  dim  lanteru-Iight  I 
could  see  him  standing  motionless  in  the  stern-sheets,  as 
though  harkening  and  straining  his  gaze. 

“ He^s  gone,  Abraham he  cried,  suddenly,  in  a rough 
voice  that  trembled  with  emotion.  “ There  will  be  never  no 
more  to  hear  of  Tommy  Budd.  Ay,  gone  dead— drowndcd 
forever 1 heard  him  mutter,  as  he  picked  up  the  lantern 
and  came  with  heavy  booted  legs  clambering  over  the  thwarts 
to  us. 

‘‘  As  God^s  my  loife,  how  sudden  it  were!’^  cried  Abraham, 
making  his  hands  meet  in  a sharp  report  in  the  passion  of 
grief  with  which  he  clapped  them. 

It  was  still  raining  hard,  and  the  atmosphere  was  of  a mid- 
night blackness;  but  all  the  hardness  of  the  squall  was  gone 
out  of  the  wind,  and  it  was  now  blowing  a steady  breeze,  such 
as  we  should  have  been  able  to  expose  our  whole  lugsail  to 
could  we  have  hoisted  it.  Jacob  held  the  lantern  to  the  mast, 
or  rather  to  the  fragment  that  remained  of  it.  You  must 
know  that  a Deal  lugger’s  mast  is  stepped  in  what  is  termed  a 
“tabernacle” — that  is  to  say,  a sort  of  box,  which  enables 
the  crew  to  lower  or  set  up  their  mast  at  will.  This  “ taber- 
nacle,” with  us,  stood  a little  less  than  two  feet  above  the  fore- 
peak deck,  and  the  mast  had  been  broken  at  some  ten  feet 
above  it.  It  showed  in  very  ugly,  fang-like  points. 

“ Two  rotten  masts  for  such  a voyage  as  this!”  cried  Jacob, 
with  a savage  note  in  his  voice.  “ ’Tis  old  Thompson’s  work. 
Would  he  was  in  Tommy’s  place!  S’elp  me!  I^d  give  half 
the  airnings  of  this  voyage  for  the  chance  to  drown  him!” 

By  which  I might  gather  that  he  referred  to  the  boat-builder 
who  had  supplied  the  masts. 

“ No  use  in  standing  in  this  drizzle,  men,”  said  1.  “ It’s  a 

bad  job,  but  there’s  nothing  to  be  done  for  the  present,  Abra- 
ham. There’s  shelter  to  be  got  under  this  deck,  here.  Have 
you  another  lantern?” 

“ What  for?”  asked  Abraham,  in  the  voice  of  a man  utterly 
broken  down. 

“ Why,  to  show,”  said  I,  “ lest  we  should  be  run  into. 
Here  we  are  stationary,  you  know,  and  who’s  to  see  us  as  we 
he?” 

“And  a blooming  good  job  if  we  was  run  into!”  returned 
Abraham.  “ Blarst  me  if  I couldn’t  chuck  moyseli  over- 
board!” 

“ Nonsense!”  cried  I,  alarmed  by  his  tone  rather  than  by 
his  words.  Let  us  get  under  shelter!  Here,  Jacob,  give 
me  the  light!  Now,  Helga,  crawl  in  first  and  show  us  the 


152 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


road.  Abraliaiu,  in  with  you!  Jacob,  take  tljis  lantern,  will 
you,  and  get  one  of  those  jars  of  spirits  you  took  olT  the  raft, 
and  a mug  and  some  cold  water!  Abraham  will  be  the  better 
for  a dram,  and  so  will  you.""^ 

The  jar  was  procured,  and  each  man  took  a hearty  drink. 
I,  too,  found  comfort  in  a dram,  but  I could  not  induce  Helga 
to  put  the  mug  to  her  lips.  The  four  of  us  crouched  under 
the  overhanging  deck — there  was  no  height  and,  indeed,  no 
breadth  for  an  easier  posture.  We  set  the  lantern  in  our 
inidst — I had  no  more  to  say  about  showing  the  light — and  in 
this  dim  irradiextion  we  gazed  at  one  another.  Abraham^s 
countenance  looked  of  a ghostly  white.  Jacob,  with  mourn- 
ful gestures,  filled  a pipe,  and  his  melancholy  visage  resembled 
some  grotesque  face  beheld  in  a dream  as  he  opened  the  lan- 
tern and  thrust  his  nose,  with  a large  rain-drop  hanging  at 
the  end  of  it,  close  to  the  flame  to  light  the  tobacco. 

To  think  that  I should  have  had  a row  with  him  only  this 
marning!^^  growled  Abraham,  hugging  his  knees.  “ What 
roight  had  I to  go  and  sarce  him  about  his  rent?  W'ill  any 
man  tell  me,^^  said  he,  slowly  looking  round,  “ that  poor  old 
Tommy^s  heart  warn^t  in  the  roight  place?  Oi  hope  not,  Oi 
hope  not — Oi  couldn’t  abear  to  hear  it  said.  He  v/as  a man 
as  had  had  to  struggle  hard  for  his  bread  like  others  along  of 
us,  and  disappointment  and  want  and  marriage  had  tamed 
his  blood  hacid.  Oi’ve  known  him  to  pass  three  days  without 
biting  a crust.  The  wery  bed  on  which  he  lay  was  took  from 
him.  Yet  he  bore  up,  and  without  th’  help  o’  drink,  and  I 
says  that  to  the  pore  chap’s  credit.  ” 

He  paused. 

“ At  bottom,”  exclaimed  Jacob,  sucking  hard  at  his  inch 
of  sooty  clay,  “ Tommy  was  a man.  He  once  saved  my  loife. 
You  remember,  Abey,  that  job  I had  along  with  him  when  we 
was  a-towing  down  on  the  quarter  of  a big,  light  Spaniard?” 

“ I remember,  I remember,”  grunted  Abraham. 

“ The  boat  sheered,”  continued  Jacob,  addressing  me, 
“ and  got  agin  the  steamer’s  screw,  and  the  stroke  of  the  blade 
cut  the  boat  roight  in  halves.  They  chucked  us  a loife-buoy. 
Poor  old  Tommy  got  hold  of  it  and  heads  for  me,  who  were 
drowning  some  fadoms  off.  He  clutched  me  by  the  h«ir  just 
in  toime,  and  held  mo  till  we  was  picked  up.  And  now  he’s 
gone  dead,  arid  we  slmll  never  see  him  no  more.” 

‘‘ ''roiiiiny  Iiudd,”  exclaimed  Abraham,  “ was  that  sort  of 
iivxu  that  hij  never  took  a i)int  hinibelf  without  asking  a chap 
to  have  a giass  tew,  if  so  be  as  h(3  had  the  valley  of  it  on  him. 
There  was  no  smarter  man  fore  apd  aft  the  beacdi  in  steering 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  153 

a galley-punt.  There  was  scarce  a regatta  but  what  he  was 
fust/^ 

“ He  was  a upright  man/’  said  Jacob,  observing  that  Abra^ 
ham  had  paused;  “and  never  more  upright  than  when  he 
warn’t  sober,  which  proves  how  true  his  instincts  was.  When 
his  darter  got  married  to  young  Darkey  Dick,  as  Tomni}^ 
didn’t  think  a sootable  match,  he  walks  into  the  room  of  the 
public-house  where  the  company  was  dancing  and  enjoying 
themselves,  kicked  the  whole  blooming  party  out  into  the  road, 
then  sits  down,  and  calls  for  a glass  himself.  Of  course  he’d 
had  a drop  too  much.  But  the  drink  only  improved  his 
natural  dislpike  of  the  wedding.  Pore  Tommy!  Abey,  pass 
along  that  jar!” 

In  this  fashion  these  plain,  simple-hearted  souls  of  boatmen 
continued  for  some  time,  with  now  and  again  an  interlude  in 
the  direction  of  the  spirit-jar,  to  bewail  the  loss  of  their  un- 
happy shipmate.  Our  situation,  however,  was  of  a sort  that 
would  not  suffer  the  shock  caused  by  the  man  Thomas’s  death 
to  be  very  lasting.  Here  we  were,  in  what  was  little  better 
than  an  open  boat  of  eighteen  tons,  lying  dismasted,  and  en- 
tirely helpless,  amid  the  solitude  of  a black  midnight  in  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  with  nothing  but  an  already  wounded  mast  to 
depend  upon  when  daybreak  should  come  to  enable  us  to  set  it 
up,  and  the  lugger’s  slender  crew  less  by  one  able  hand! 

It  was  still  a thick  and  drizzling  night,  with  a plentiful  gob- 
bing of  water  alongside;  but  the  “Early  Morn,”  under  her 
little  mizzen  and  with  her  bows  almost  head  to  sea,  rose  and 
fell  quietly.  , By  this  time  the  men  had  pretty  well  exhausted 
their  lamentations  over  Thomas.  I therefore  ventured  to 
change  the  suoject. 

“ Now  there  are  but  two  of  you,”  said  I,  “ I suppose  you’ll 
up  with  your  mast  to-morrow  morning  and  make  for  home?” 

“No  fear!”  answered  Abraham,  speaking  with  briskness 
out  of  the  drams  he  had  swallowed.  “ We’re  agoing  to  Aus- 
traley,  and  if  so  be  as  another  of  us  ain’t  taken  we’ll  git  there.  ” 

“ But  surely  you’ll  not  continue  this  voyage  with  the  outfit 
you  now  have?”  said  1. 

“ Well,”  said  he,  “ we  shall  have  to  ‘ fish  ’ the  mast  that’s 
sprung  and  try  and  make  it  sarve  till  we  falls  in  with  a wessel 
as’ll  give  us  a sound  spar  to  take  the  mast’s  place.  Anyhow, 
we  shall  keep  all  on.” 

“Ay,  we  shall  keep  all  on,”  said  Jacob:  “no  use  coming 
all  this  way  to  tarn  back  again.  Why,  Gor’  bless  me^  what 
”ud  be  said  of  us?” 


154 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


But,  surely/^  said  Helga,  “ two  of  you^Il  not  be  able  to 
manage  this  big  boat?^^ 

“ Lord  love  '’ee,  yes,  lady/^  cried  Abraham.  “ Mind  ye,  if 
we  was  out  a pleasuring  I should  want  to  get  home;  but 
there’s  money  to  take  up  at  the  end  of  this  ramble,  and  Jacob 
juid  me  means  to  aim  it.^^ 

Thus  speaking,  he  crawled  out  to  have  a look  at  the  weather, 
and  was,  a moment  later,  followed  by  Jacob,  and  presently  I 
could  hear  them  both  earnestly  consulting  on  what  was  to  be 
done  when  the  morning  came,  and  how  they  were  to  manage 
afterward,  now  that  Thomas  was  gone. 

The  light  of  the  lantern  lay  upon  Helga’s  face  as  she  sat 
close  beside  me  on  the  spare  sail  that  had  formed  my  rough 
couch. 

“ What  further  experiences  are  we  to  pass  through?’^  said  I. 

“ Little  you  guessed  what  was  before  you  when  you  came 
off  to  us  in  the  life-boat,  Hugh!”  said  she,  gazing  gently  at 
me  with  eyes  which  seemed  black  in  the  dull  light. 

“ These  two  boatmen,”  said  I,  “ are  very  good  fellows,  but 
there  is  a pig-headedness  about  them  that  does  not  improve 
our  distress.  Their  resolution  to  proceed  might  appear  as  a 
wonderful  stroke  of  courage  to  a landsman’s  mind,  but  to  a 
sailor  it  could  signify  nothing  more  than  the  rankest  foolhardi- 
ness. A plague  upon  their  heroism!  A little  timidity  would 
mean  common  sen^e,  and  then  to-morrow  morning  we  should 
be  heading  for  home.  But  I fear  you  are  wet  through, 
Helga.” 

“ No,  your  oilskin  has  kept  me  dry,”  she  answered. 

‘‘No  need  for  you  to  stay  here,”  said  I.  “ Why  not  return 
to  the  forepeak  and  finish  out  the  night?” 

“ I would  rather  remain  with  you,  Hugh.  ” 

“ Ay,  Helga,  but  you  must  spare  no  pains  to  fortify  your- 
self with  rest  and  food.  Who  knows  what  the  future  may  be 
h.olding  for  us — how  heavily  the  pair  of  us  may  yet  be  tried? 
These  experiences,  so  far,  may  prove  but  a few  links  of  a chain 
whose  end  is  still  a long  way  off.” 

She  put  her  hand  on  the  back  of  mine,  and  tenderly 
stroked  it. 

“ Hugh,”  said  she,  “ remember  our  plain  friend  Abraham’s 
advice:  Do  not  let  imagination  run  away  with  you.  The 
spirit  that  brought  you  to  the  side  of  the  ‘ Anine  ’ in  the 
black  and  dreadful  nigM  is  still  your  own.  Cheer  up!  All 
will  be  well  with  you  y(^.  What  makes  me  say  this?  I can 
jaot  tell,  if  it  bo  not  tJic  conviction  that  Cod  will  not  leave  un- 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  155 

watched  one  whose  trials  have  been  brought  about  by  an  act 
of  noble  courage  and  of  beautiful  resolution. 

She  continued  to  caress  my  hand  as  she  spoke — an  uncon- 
scious gesture  in  her,  as  I perceived — may  be  it  was  a habit  of 
her  affectionate  heart,  and  I could  figure  her  thus  caressing 
her  father’s  hand,  or  the  hand  of  a dear  friend.  Her  soft  eyes 
were  upon  my  face  as  she  addressed  me,  and  there  was  light 
enough  to  enable  me  to  distinguish  a little  encouraging  smile 
full  of  sweetness  upon  her  lips. 

If  ever  strength  is  to  be  given  to  a man  in  a time  of  bitter 
anxiety  and  peril,  the  inspiration  of  spirit  must  surely  come 
from  such  a little  woman  as  this.  I felt  the  influence  of  her 
manner  and  of  her  presence. 

“You  have  a flne  spirit,  Helga,”  said  1.  “ Your  name 

should  be  Nelson  instead  of  Nielsen.  The  blood  of  nothing 
short  of  the  greatest  of  English  captains  should  be  in  your 
veins.” 

She  laughed  softly  and  answered: 

“ No,  no!  I am  a Dane  first.  Let  me  be  an  English  girl 
next.” 

Well,  I again  endeavored  to  persuade  her  to  withdraw  to 
her  bunk,  but  she  begged  hard  to  remain  with  me,  and  so  for 
a long  while  we  continued  to  sit  and  talk.  Her  speaking  of 
herself  as  a Dane  first  and  an  Englishwoman  afterward  started 
her  on  the  subject  of  her  home  and  childhood,  and  once  again 
she  talked  of  Kolding  and  of  her  mother,  and  of  the  time  she 
had  spent  in  London,  and  of  an  English  school  she  had  been 
put  to.  I could  overhear  the  rumbling  of  the  two  fellows’ 
voices  outside.  By  and  by  I crawled  out  and  found  the  rain 
had  ceased;  but  it  was  pitch  dark,  and  blowing  a cold  wind. 
Jacob  had  lighted  the  fire  in  the  stove.  His  figure  showed  in 
the  ruddy  glare  as  he  squatted  toasting  his  hands.  I returned 
to  Helga,  and  presently  Abraham  arrived  to  ask  us  if  we 
would  have  a drop  of  hot  coffee.  This  was  a real  luxury  at 
such  a time.  We  gratefully  took  a mugful,  and  with  the  help 
of  it  made  a midnight  meal  off  a biscuit  and  a little  tinned 
meat. 

How  we  scraped  through  those  long,  dark,  wet  hours  I will 
not  pretend  to  describe.  Toward  the  morning  Helga  fell 
asleep  by  my  side  on  the  sail  upon  which  we  were  crouching, 
but  for  my  part  I could  get  no  rest,  nor,  indeed,  did  I strive 
or  wish  for  it.  One  thing  coming  on  top  of  another  had  i*en- 
dered  me  unusually  nervous,  and  all  the  while  I was  thinking 
that  our  next  experience  might  be  the  feeling  some  great 
shearing  stem  of  a sailing  ship  or  steamer  strik^ing  into  the 


1S6 


MY  DANISH  S\VEETni':AJ:'i. 


lugger  and  drowning  the  lot  of  us  before  we  could  well  realize 
what  had  happened.  1 was  only  easy  in  my  mind  when  the 
boatmen  carried  the  lantern  out  from  under  the  overhanging 
deck  for  some  purpose  or  other. 

It  came  at  last,  however,  to  my  being  able  no  longer  to  con- 
ceal my  apprehensions,  and  then,  after  some  talk  and  a bit  of 
hearty  “pooh-poohing^^  on  the  part  of  Abraham,  he  con- 
sented to  secure  the  light  to  the  stump  of  the  mast. 

This  might  have  been  at  about  half  past  three  o’clock  in  the 
morning,  when  the  night  was  blacker  than  it  had  been  at  any 
previous  hour;  and  then  a very  strange  thing  followed.  I 
had  returned  to  my  shelter,  and  was  sitting  lost  in  thought, 
for  Helga  was  now  sleeping.  The  two  boat^men  were  in  the 
open,  but  what  they  were  about  I could  not  tell  you.  I was 
sunk  deep  in  gloomy  thought,  as  I have  said,  when  on  a sud- 
den I heard  a sound  of  loud  bawling.  I went  out  as  quickly 
as  my  knees  would  carry  me,  and  the  first  thing  I saw  was  the 
green  light  of  a ship  glimmering  faintly  as  a glow-worm  out  in 
the  darkness  abeam.  I knew  her  to  be  a sailing-ship,  for  she 
showed  no  masthead  light,  but  there  was  not  the  dimmest  out- 
line to  be  seen  of  her.  Her  canvas  threv/  no  pallor  upon  the 
midnight  wall  of  atmosphere.  But  for  that  fluctuating  green 
light,  showing  so  illusively  that  one  needed  to  look  a little  on 
one  side  of  it  to  catch  it,  the  ocean  would  have  been  as  bare 
as  the  heavens,  so  far  as  the  sight  went.  One  after  the  other 
the  two  boatmen  continued  to  shout  “ Ship  ahoy!”  in  hearty 
roaring  voices,  which  they  sent  flying  through  the  arching  of 
their  hands;  but  the  light  went  sliding  on,  and  in  a few  min- 
utes the  screen  in  which  it  was  hung  eclipsed  it;  and  it  was  all 
blackness  again,  look  where  one  would. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  said  about  this  to  the  men.  I 
crept  back  to  Helga,  who  had  been  awakened  by  the  hoarse 
sliouts. 

“ Some  sailing-vessel  has  passed  us,”  said  I,  in  answer  to 
her  inquiry,  “ as  we  may  know  by  the  green  light;  but  how 
near  or  far  I can  not  tell.  Yet  it  is  more  likely  than  not, 
Helga,  that  but  for  my  begging  Abraham  to  keep  a light 
showing  that  same  ship  might  have  run  us  down.” 

We  conversed  awhile  about  the  vessel  and  our  chances,  and 
then  her  voice  grew  languid  again  with  drowsiness,  and  she 
fell  asleep. 

Sornewhilo  before  dawn  the  rain  ceased,  the  sky  brightened, 
and  here  and  there  a star  showed.  T had  been  out  overhang- 
ing the  gunwale  will'  Abraha-ui,  and  lisl.ening  to  him  as  ho 
talked  about  his  mate  ddiomas,  and  how  Uio  chihlreu  were  to 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


157 


manage  now  that  the  poor  fellow  was  taken,  when  the  gray  of 
the  dawn  rose  floating  into  the  sky  off  the  black  rim  of  the 
sea. 

In  a short  time  the  daylight  was  abroad,  with  the  pink  of 
the  coming  sun  swiftly  growing  in  glory  among  the  clouds  in 
the  east.  Jacob  sat  sleeping  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  squat- 
ting Lascar  fashion — a huddle  of  coat  and  angular  knees  andi 
bowed  head.  I got  upon  a thwart  and  sent  a long  thirsty  look 
round. 

‘‘  By  Heaven,  Abraham!^^  I cried,  “ nothing  in  sight,  as  I 
live  to  say  it!  What,  in  the  name  of  hope,  has  come  to  the 
sea?'^ 

“ Weh^e  agoing  to  have  a fine  day,  I^m  thankful  to  say,^^  he 
answered,  turning  up  his  eyes.  “But,  Lord!  what  a wreck 
the  lugger  looks !^^ 

The  poor  fellow  was  as  haggard  as  though  he  had  risen  from 
a sick-bed,  and  this  sudden  gauntness  or  elongation  of  counte- 
nance was  not  a little  heightened  by  a small  powdering  of  the 
crystals  of  salt  lying  white  under  the  hollow  of  each  eye  where 
the  brine  that  had  been  swept  up  by  the  squall  had  lodged  and 
dried. 

“ Hi,  Jacob!’^  he  cried;  “ rouse  up,  matey!  Day^s  broke, 
and  there ^s  work  to  be  done.^^ 

Jacob  staggered  to  his  feet  with  many  contortions  and 
grimaces. 

“Chock-a-block  with  rheumatics,^’  he  growled;  “that’s 
how  the  sea  sarves  a man.  They  said  it  ’ud  get  warmer  the 
furder  we  drawed  down  this  way;  but  if  this  be  what  they 
calls  warm,  give  me  the  scissors  and  thumbscrews  of  a Jani- 
vary  gale  in  the  Jarman  Ocean.”  He  gazed  slowly  around 
him,  and  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  stump  of  the  mast.  “Afore 
we  begin,  Abraham,”  said  he,  “ I must  have  a drop  of  hot 
corffee.” 

“ Eight,”  answered  the  other;  “ a quarter  of  an  hour  isn’t 
going  to  make  any  difference.” 

A fire  was  kindled,  a kettle  of  water  boiled,  and,  Helga  now 
arriving,  the  four  of  us  sat,  every  one  with  a mug  of  the  com- 
forting steaming  beverage  in  his  hand,  while  the  two  boatmen 
settled  the  procedure  of  strengthening  the  wounded  spar  by 
“ fishing  it,”  as  it  is  termed,  and  of  making  sail  afresh. 


158 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  END  OF  THE  EARLY  MORN.^^ 

The  first  business  of  the  men  was  to  get  the  broken  mast 
out  of  the  water.  Helga  helped,  and  worked  with  as  much 
dexterity  as  though  she  had  been  bred  to  the  calling  of  the 
Heal  waterman.  The  mast  in  breaking  had  been  shortened  by 
ten  feet,  and  was  therefore  hardly  as  useful  a spar  to  step  as 
the  bowsprit.  It  was  laid  along  the  thwarts  in  the  side,  and 
we  went  to  work  to  strengthen  the  mast  that  had  been  sprung 
in  the  Channel  by  laying  pieces  of  wood  over  the  fractured 
part,  and  securely  binding  them  by  turn  upon  turn  of  rope. 
This,  at  sea,  they  call  “fishing  a spar.^^  Jacob  shook  his 
head  as  he  looked  at  the  mast  when  we  had  made  an  end  of 
the  repairs,  but  said  nothing.  When  the  mast  was  stepped, 
we  hoisted  the  sail  with  a reef  in  it  to  ease  the  strain.  Abra- 
ham went  to  the  tiller,  the  boat^s  head  was  put  to  a south- 
west course,  and  once  again  the  little  fabric  was  pushing 
through  it,  rolling  m a long-drawn  way  upon  a sudden  swell 
that  had  risen  while  we  worked,  with  a frequent  little  vicious 
shake  of  white  waters  off  her  bow,  as  though  the  combing  of 
the  small  seas  irritated  her. 

The  wind  was  about  east,  oif  a November  coldness,  and  it 
blew  somewhat  lightly  till  a little  before  ten  o^clock  in  the 
morning,  when  it  came  along  freshening  in  a gust  which  heeled 
the  boat  sharply,  and  brought  a wild,  anxious  look  into  Abra- 
ham^s  eyes  as  he  gazed  at  the  mast.  The  horizon  slightly 
thickened  to  some  film  of  mist  which  overlay  the  windward 
junction  of  heaven  and  water,  and  the  sky  then  took  a windy 
face,  with  dim  breaks  of  blue  betwixt  long  streaks  of  hard 
vapor,  under  which  there  nimbly  sailed,  here  and  there,  a 
wreath  of  light-yellow  scud.  The  sea  rapidly  became  sloppy 
— an  uncomfortable  tumble  of  billows  occasioned  by  the  lateral 
run  of  the  swell — and  the  boat^s  gait  grew  so  staggering,  such 
a sense  of  internal  dislocation  was  induced  by  her  brisk,  jerky 
wobbling — now  to  windward  now  to  leeward,  now  by  the  stern 
now  by  the  head,  then  all  the  motions  happening  together,  as 
it  were,  followed  by  a sickly,  leaning  slide  down  some  slope  of 
rounded  water— that  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  I felt  posi- 
tively sea-sick,  and  was  not  a little  thankful  for  the  relief  I ob- 
taiiieil  from  a nip  of  poor  Captain  Nielsen^s  brandy  out  of  one 
of  the  few  jars  which  had  been  taken  from  the  raft,  and  which 
still  remained  fulL 


159 


MY  DAMISH  SWEETHEART. 

Somewhile  before  noon  it  was  blowing  a fresh  breeze,  with 
a somewhat  steadier  sea;  but  the  rolling  and  plunging  of  the 
lugger  continued  sharp  and  exceedingly  uncomfortable.  To 
stdl  further  help  the  mast  — Abraham  having  gone  into  the 
fore-peak  to  get  a little  sleep— Helga  and  I,  at  the  request  of 
Jacob,  who  was  steering,  tied  a second  reef  in  the  sail;  though, 
had  the  spar  been  sound,  the  lugger  would  have  easily  borne 
the  whole  of  her  canvas. 

If  that  mast  goes,  what  is  to  be  done?’^  said  I to  Jacob. 

“ Whoy,^"  he  answered,  “ we  shall  have  to  make  shift  with 
the  remains  of  the  mast  that  went  overboard  last  night. 

“ But  what  sail  will  you  be  able  to  hoist  on  that  shortened 
height?’^ 

“ Enough  to  keep  us  slowly  blowing  along,^^  he  answered, 
‘‘  till  we  fails  in  with  a wessel  as  will  help  us  to  the  sort 
spar  as’il  sarve.^^ 

“ Considering  the  barrenness  of  the  sea  we  have  been  sailing 
th rough, said  I,  “ the  look-out  seems  a poor  one,  if  weVe  to 
depend  upon  passing  assistance. 

“ Mr.  Tregarthen,^^  said  he,  fixing  his  eyes  upon  my  face, 
“ I^m  an  older  man  nor  you,  and  therefore  I fakes  the  liberty 
of  telling  ye  this:  that  neither  ashore  nor  at  sea  do  things  fall 
out  in  the  fashion  as  is  hanticipated.  That^s  what  the  Ili- 
talian  organ-grinder  discovered.  He  con-ceived  that  if  he 
could  get  hold  of  a big  monkey  he^d  do  a good  trade;  so  he 
buys  the  biggest  he  could  meet  with — a chap  pretty  nigh  as 
big  as  himself.  What  happened?  When  them  parties  was 
met  with  a week  arterward,  it  was  the  monkey  that  was  a- 
turning  the  handle,  w^hile  the  horgan-grinder  was  doing  the 
dancing.’^ 

“ The  public  wouldn^t  know  the  difference/’  said  Helga. 

“ True  for  you,  lady,”  answered  Jacob,  with  an  approving 
nod  and  a smile  of  admiration.  “ But  Mr.  Tregarthen  here’ll 
find  out  that  I’m  speaking  the  Lard’s  truth  w&n  I says  that 
human  hanticipation  always  works  out  contrariwise.” 

“I  heartily  hope  it  may  do  so  in  our  case!”  I exclaimed, 
vexed  by  the  irrationality,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  of  this  homely 
boatman’s  philosphic  views. 

“ About  toime  for  Abraham  to  take  soights,  ain’t  it?”  said 
he. 

I went  to  the  hatch  and  called  to  Abraham,  who  in  a few 
minutes  arrived,  and,  with  sleepy  eyes,  fell  to  groping  after 
the  sun  with  his  old  quadrant.  While  he  w^as  thus  occupied, 
Helga  touched  me  lightly  on  the  shoulder  and  pointed  astern. 

I peered  an  instant,  and  then  said,: 


100 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHKART. 


I see  it!  A sail! — at  the  wrong  end  of  the  sea  again,  of 
course!  Another  “ Thermopylae,^^  may  be,  to  thunder  past  ua 
with  no  further  recognition  of  our  wants  than  a wagging  head 
over  the  rail,  with  a finger  at  its  nose. 

“ It^s  height  bells !^^  cried  Abraham;  and  he  sat  down  to 
his  rough  calculations. 

Jacob  looked  soberly  over  his  shoulder  at  the  distant  tiny 
space  of  white  canvas. 

“ If  there^s  business  to  be  done  with  her,^^  said  he,  “ wo 
must  steer  to  keep  her  head  right  at  our  starn.  What 
course^ll  she  be  taking?^^ 

“ She  appears  to  be  coming  directly  at  us,^^  answered  Helga. 

‘‘  Why  not  lower  your  sail,  heave  the  lugger  to,  and  fly  a 
distress  signal?’^  said  I. 

I had  scarcely  uttered  the  words  when  the  boat  violently 
jumped  a sea;  a crash  followed,  and  the  next  instant  the  saiJ, 
with  half  of  the  fished  mast,  was  overboard,  with  the  lugger 
rapidly  swinging,  head  to  sea,  to  the  drag  of  the  wreckage. 

I was  not  a little  startled  by  the  sudden  cracking  of  the 
mast,  that  was  like  the  report  of  a gun,  and  the  splash  of  the 
sail  overboard,  and  the  rapid  slewing  of  the  boat. 

Helga  quietly  said  in  my  ear: 

“ Nothing  better  could  have  happened,  Hugh.  We  are 
now  indeed  a wreck  for  that  ship  astern  to  sight,  and  she  is 
sure  to  speak  us.^^ 

Abraham  flung  down  his  logbook  with  a sudden  roaring  out 
of  I know  not  what  ^longshore  profanities,  and  Jacob,  letting 
go  the  helm,  went  scrambling  forward  over  the  thwarts,  heap- 
ing sea-blessings,  as  he  sprawled,  upon  the  eyes  and  limbs  of 
1 he  boat-builder  who  had  supplied  the  lugger  with  spars.  The 
ihree  of  us  wetit  to  work,  and  Helga  helped  us  as  best  she 
ooald,  to  get  the  sail  in;  but  the  sea  that  was  now  running 
'.ras  large  compared  to  what  it  had  been  during  the  night,  and 
:ho  task  was  extraordinarily  laborious  and  distressful.  In- 
heed,  how  long  it  took  us  to  drag  that  great  lug-sail  full  of 
water  over  the  rail  was  to  be  told  by  the  ship  astern,  for  when 
I had  leisure  to  look  for  her  I found  her  risen  to  her  hull,  and 
coming  along,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  dead  for  us,  heeling  sharply 
away  from  the  fresh  wind,  but  rolling  heavily  too  on  the  swell, 
and  pitching  with  the  regularity  of  a swing  in  motion. 

Helga  and  I threw  ourselves  upon  a thwart,  to  take  breath. 
The  boatmen  stood  looking  at  the  approaching  vessel. 

She’ll  not  miss  seeing  us,  anyway,”  said  Abraham. 

“I’m  for  lotting  the  lugger  loie  as  she  is,”  exclaimed 
Jacob:  “ they’ll  see  the  mess  we’re  in,  and  back  their  taws’l.” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


16i 


“ You  will  signal  to  her,  I hope?^^  said  L 

“ Ay/^  answered  Abraham;  “ we^ll  gi^  ^em  a flourish  of 
the  Jack  presently,  though  therein  be  little  need,  for  if  our 
condition  ain^t  going  to  stop  ^em  there^s  "'nothen^  in  a color 
to  do  it/^ 

“ Abraham,^^  said  I,  you  and  Jacob  will  not,  I am  sure, 
think  us  ungrateful  if  1 say  that  I have  made  up  my  mind  — 
and  I am  sure  Miss  Nielsen  will  agree — that  I have  made  up 
my  mind,  Abraham,  to  leave  your  lugger  for  that  ship,  out- 
ward-bound as  I can  see  she  is,  if  she  will  receive  us. 

“Well,  sir,^’  answered  Abraham,  mildly,  “you  and  the 
[ady  are  your  own  masters,  and,  of  course,  you^ll  do  as  you 
please. 

“ It  is  no  longer  right,  I continued,  “ that  we  should  go 
on  in  this  fashion,  eating  you  out  of  your  little  floating  house 
and  home;  nor  is  it  reasonable  that  we  should  keep  you  de^ 
prived  of  the  comfort  of  your  fore-peak.  We  owe  you  our 
lives,  and,  God  knows,  we  are  grateful!  But  our  gratitude 
must  not  take  the  form  of  compelling  you  to  go  on  maintain- 
ing us. 

Abraham  took  a slow  look  at  the  ship. 

“ Well,  sir, said  he,  “down  to  this  hour  the  odds  have 
been  so  heavy  agin  your  exchanging  this  craft  for  a homeward- 
bounder  that  I really  haven^t  the  heart  to  recommend  ye  to 
wait  a little  longer.  It^s  but  an  oncomfortable  life  for  the 
likes  of  you  and  the  lady — she  having  to  loie  in  a little  bit  of 
a coal-black  room,  forrads,  as  may  be  all  very  good  for  us 
men,  but  werry  bad  and  hard  for  her;  and  you  having  to  tarn 
ill  under  that  there  opening,  into  which  there’s  no  vartue  in 
sail-cloth  to  keep  the  draughts  from  blowing.  I dorn’t  doubt 
ye’li  be  happier  aboard  a craft  where  you’ll  have  room  to 
stretch  your  legs  in,  a proper  table  to  sit  down  to  for  your 
meals,  and  a cabin  where  you’ll  loie  snug.  ’Sides,  tain’t,  after 
all,  as  if  she  wasn’t  a-going  to  give  ye  the  same  chances  of  get- 
ting home  as  the  ‘ Airly  Marn  ’ dew.  Only  hope  she’ll  receive 
ye.” 

“ Bound  to  do  it,”  rumbled  Jacob,  “ if  so  be  as  he  cap’n’s  a 
man.  ” 

I turned  to  Helga. 

“ Do  I decide  wisely?” 

“ Yes,  Hugh,”  she  answered.  “ I hate  to  think  of  you  ly- 
ing in  that  cold  space  there  throughout  the  nights.  The  two 

EoOr  fellows,”  she  added,  softly,  “ are  generous,  kind,  large- 
earted  men,  and  I shrink  from  the  thought  of  the  mad  ad- 
venture they  have  engaged  in.  But,”  said  she,  with  a little 
0 


102 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


smile  and  a faint  touch  of  color  in  her  cheeks,  as  though  SVe 
spoke  reluctantly,  “ the  ‘ Early  Morn  ^ is  very  uncomfortable, 
Hugh’’ 

“ All  we  have  now  to  pray  for  is  that  the  captain  of  that 
vessel  will  take  us  on  board, said  I,  fixing  my  eyes  on  the 
ship,  that  was  yet  too  distant  for  the  naked  sight  to  make  any- 
thing of.  “I  suppose,  Abraham,^’ I spoke  out,  turning  to 
the  man,  ‘‘  that  you  will  request  them  to  give  you  a boom  for 
a spare  mast?^^ 

“ Vy,  ask  yourself  the  question,  sir,^^  he  answered. 

“ But  suppose  they  have  no  spare  booms,  and  are  unable  to 
accommodate  you?” 

‘‘  Then,”  said  he,  we  must  up  with  that  there  stick,” 
pointing  with  his  square  thumb  to  the  mast  that  had  carried 
away  on  the  previous  night,  and  blow  along  till  we  meets 
with  something  that  will  accommodate  ub.” 

“ But,  honestly,  men — are  you  in  earnest  in  your  resolution 
to  pursue  this  voyage  to  Australia?  You  two — the  crew  now 
half  the  working  strength  }^ou  started  with — a big  boat  of 
eighteen  tons  to  handle,  and — ” 

I was  on  the  point  of  referring  to  the  slenderness  of  his  skill 
as  a navigator,  but,  happily,  snapped  my  lips  in  time  to  si- 
lence the  words. 

Abraham  eyed  me  a moment,  then  gave  me  a huge,  emphatic 
nod,  and,  without  remark,  turned  his  back  upon  me  in  ^long- 
shore fashion,  and  leisurely  looked  around  the  ocean  line. 

‘‘  Men,”  said  I,  ‘‘  that  ship  may  take  us  aboard,  and  in  the 
bustle  I may  miss  the  chance  of  saying  what  is  in  my  mind. 
My  name  is  Hugh  Tregarthen,  as  you  know,  and  I live  at  Tin- 
trenale,  which  you  have  likewise  heard  me  say.  I came  away 
from  home  in  a hurry  to  get  alongside  the  ship  that  this  brave 
girTs  father  commanded;  and  aS^  I was  then  so  am  I now, 
without  a single  article  of  value  upon  me  worthy  of  your  ac- 
ceptance; for,  as  to  my  watch,  it  was  my  father’s,  and  I must 
keep  it.  But  if  it  should  please  God,  men,  to  bring  us  all 
safely  to  England  again,  then,  no  matter  when  you  two  may 
return,  whether  in  twelve  months  hence  or  twelve  years  hence, 
you  will  find  set  apart  for  you,  at  a little  bank  in  Tintrenale, 
a sum  of  fifty  pounds— which  you  will  take  as  signifying 
twenty-five  pounds  from  Miss  Helga  Nielsen,  and  twenty-five 
pounas  from  me.” 

“ We  thank  you  koindly,  sir,”  said  Jacob. 

“ us  get  homo,  first,”  said  Abraham;  “ yet,  I thank  ye 
koindly  tew,  Mr.  Tregarthen,”  ho  added,  rounding  upon  me 
again  and  extending  his  rough  hand. 


KY  DANISH  SWEETHEART* 


163 


I grasped  and  held  it  with  eyes  suffused  by  the  emotion  of 
gratitude  which  possessed  me:  then  Jacob  shook  hands  with 
me,  and  then  the  poor  fellows  shook  hands  with  Helga,  whose 
breath  I could  hear  battling  with  a sob  in  her  throat  as  she 
thanked  them  for  her  life  and  for  their  goodness  to  her. 

But  every  minute  was  bringing  the  ship  closer,  and  now  I 
could  think  of  nothing  else.  Would  she  back  her  topsail  and 
come  to  a stand?  Would  she  at  any  moment  shift  her  helm 
and  give  us  a wide  berth?  Would  she,  if  she  came  to  a halt, 
receive  Helga  and  me?  These  were  considerations  to  excite  a 
passion  of  anxiety  in  me.  Ilelga^s  eyes,  with  a clear  blue 
gleam  in  them,  were  fixed  upon  the  oncoming  vessel;  but  the 
agitation,  the  hurry  of  emotions  in  her  little  heart,  showed  in 
the  trembling  of  her  nostrils  and  the  contraction  of  her  white 
brow,  where  a few  threads  of  her  pale-gold  hair  were  blowing. 

Jacob  pulled  the  Jack  out  of  the  locker,  and  attached  it  to 
the  long  staff  or  pole,  and  fell  to  w'aving  it  as  before  when  the 
Hamburger  hove  into  view.  The  ship  came  along  slowly, 
but  without  deviating  by  a hair^s-breadth  from  her  course, 
that  was  on  a straight  line  with  the  lugger.  She  was  still  dim 
in  the  blue,  windy  air,  but  determinable  to  a certain  extent, 
and  now  with  the  naked  vision  I could  distinguish  her  as  a 
bark  or  ship  of  about  the  size  of  the  “ Anine,^^  her  hull  black 
and  a row  of  painted  ports  running  along  either  side.  She  sat 
somewhat  high  upon  the  water,  as  though  she  were  half  empty 
or  her  cargo  very  light  goods;. but  she  was  neat  aloft — differ- 
ent, indeed,  from  the  Hamburger.,  Her  royals  were  stowed  in 
streaks  of  snow  upon  their  yards,  but  the  rest  of  her  canvas 
was  spread,  and  it  showed  in  soft,  fair  bosoms  of  white,  and 
the  cloths  carried,  indeed,  an  almost  yacht-like  brilliance  as 
they  steadily  swung  against  the  steely  gray  of  the  atmosphere 
of  the  horizon.  The  ship  pitched  somewhat  heavily  as  she 
came,  and  the  foam  rose  in  milky  clouds  to  the  hawse-pipes 
with  the  regular  alternation  of  the  lifting  out  of  the  round, 
wet,  black  bows,  and  a flash  of  sunshine  off  the  streaming  tim- 
bers. From  time  to  time  Jacob  flourished  his  flagstaff,  all  of 
us,  meanwhile,  waiting  and  watching  in  silence.  Presently, 
Abraham  put  his  little  telescope  to  his  eye,  and,  after  a pause, 
said: 

“ She  means  to  heave  to.^^ 

“ How  can  you  tell?^^  I cried. 

1 can  see  some  figures  a-standing  by  the  weather  main- 
braces,^^  said  he;  “ and  every  now  and  again  there^s  a chap, 
aft,  bending  his  body  over  the  rail  to  have  a look  at  us. 

His  ^longshore  observation  proved  correct.  Indeed,  your 


104 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


Deal  boatman  can  interpret  the  intentions  of  a ship  as  you  are 
able  to  read  the  passions  in  the  human  face.  When  she  was 
within  a few  of  her  own  lengths  of  us,  the  main-sail  havimr 
previously  been  hauled  up,  the  yards  on  the  mainmast  were 
swung,  and  the  vessers  way  arrested.  Her  impulse,  which 
appeared  to  have  been  very  nicely  calculated,  brought  her 
surghig,  foaming,  and  rolling  to  almost  abreast  of  us,  within 
reach  of  the  fling  of  a line  before  she  came  to  a dead  stand.  I 
instantly  took  notice  of  a crowd  of  chocolate-visaged  men 
standing  on  the  forecastle,  staring  at  us,  with  a white  man  on 
the  cathead,  and^a  man  aft  on  the  poop,  with  a white  wide- 
awake and  long  yellow  whiskers. 

“Bark  ahoy!^^  bawled  Abraham,  for  the  vessel  proved  to 
be  of  that  rig,  though  it  was  not  to  have  been  told  by  us  as  she 
approached  head  on. 

“ Halloo!'’^  shouted  the  man  in  the  white  wideawake. 

“ For  God’s  sake,  sir,’^  shouted  Abraham,  “ heave  us  a line, 
that  we  may  haul  alongside!  We’re  in  great  distress,  and 
there^s  a couple  of  parties  here  as  wants  to  get  aboard  ye.^’ 

“ Heave  them  a line!’^  shouted  the  fellow  aft,  sending  his 
voice  to  the  forecastle. 

“ Look  out  for  it!’^  bawled  the  white  man  on  the  heel  of 
the  cathead  within  the  rail. 

A line  lay  ready  as  though  our  want  had  been  foreseen:  with 
sailorly  celerity  the  white  man  gathered  it  into  fakes,  and  in  a 
few  moments  the  coils  were  flying  through  the  air.  Jacob 
caught  the  rope  with  the  unerring  clutch  of  a boatman,  and 
the  three  of  us,  stretching  our  backs  at  it,  swung  the  lugger 
to  the  vessel’s  quarter. 

“ What  is  it  you  want?”  cried  the  long- whiskered  man, 
looking  down  at  us  over  the  rail. 

“ We’ll  come  aboard  and  tell  you,  sir,”  answered  Abraham. 

“Jacob,  you  mind  the  lugger!  Now,  Mr.  Tregarthen, 
watch  your  chance  and  jump  into  them  channels  ” (meaning 
the  mizzen-chains),  “ and  I’ll  stand  by  to  help  the  lady  up  to 
your  hands.  Ye’ll  want  narve,  miss!  Can  ye  do  it?” 

Helga  smiled  as  she  answered : 

“ I will  go  first  if  you  like.  ” 

1 jumped  on  to  a thwart,  planting  one  foot  on  the  gunwale 
in  readiness.  The  rolling  of  the  two  craft,  complicated,  so  to 
speak,  by  the  swift  jumps  of  the  lugger  as  compared  with  the 
slow  stoops  of  the  bark,  made  the  task  of  boarding  ticklish 
even  to  me,  who  had  had  some  experience  of  gaining  the  decks 
of  ships  in  heavy  weather.  I waited.  Up  swung  the  boat, 
and  over  came  the  leaning  side  of  the  bark;  then  I sprung, 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAJlt.  165 

and  successfully,  and,  instantly  turning,  waited  to  catch  hold 
of  Helga. 

Abraham  took  her  under  the  arms  as  though  to  lift  her  to- 
ward me  when  the  opportunity  came. 

“ 1 can  manage  alone — I shall  be  safer  alone she  ex- 
claimed, giving  him  a smile  and  then  setting  her  lips. 

She  did  as  I had  done — stood  on  a thwart,  securely  planting^ 
one  foot  on  the  gunwale;  and  even  in  such  a moment  ai  that 
1 could  find  mind  enough  to  admire  the  beauty  of  her  figure 
and  the  charming  grace  of  her  posture  as  her  form  floated  per- 
pendicularly upon  the  staggering  motions  of  the  lugger. 

“ Now,  Hugh!^^  she  cried,  as  her  outstretched  hands  were 
borne  up  to  the  level  of  mine.  I caught  her.  She  sprung, 
and  was  at  my  side  in  a breath. 

“ Nobly  done,  Helga,^^  said  I;  “ now  over  the  rail  with  us.^^ 

She  stopped  to  call  Abraham  with  a voice  in  which  I could 
trace  no  hurry  of  breathing: 

“ Will  you  please  hand  me  up  my  little  parcel?’^ 

This  was  done,  and  a minute  later  we  had  gained  the  poop 
of  the  bark. 

The  man  with  the  long  whiskers  advanced  to  the  break  of 
the  short  poop  or  upper  deck  as  Helga  and  1 ascended  the 
ladder  that  led  to  it.  He  seized  the  brim  of  his  hat,  and, 
without  lifting  it,  bowed  his  head  as  though  to  the  tug  he 
gave,  and  said  with  a slightly  nasal  accent  by  no  means 
Yankee,  but  of  the  kind  that  is  common  to  the  denomination 
of  “ tub-thumpers^^: 

“ I suppose  you  are  the  two  distressed  parties  the  sailor  in 
the  lugger  called  out  about?^^ 

“We  are,  sir,^^  said  1.  “ May  I take  it  that  you  are  the 

captain  of  this  bark?^^ 

“You  may,^^  he  responded,  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  Helga. 
“ Captain  Joppa  Bunting,  master  of  the  bark  ‘ Light  of  the 
World,^  from  the  Eiver  Thames  for  Table  Bay,  with  a small 
cargo  and  for  orders.  That  gives  you  everything,  sir,^^ 
said  he. 

He  pulled  at  his  long  whiskers  with  a complacent  smile,  now 
contemplating  me  and  now  Helga. 

“ Captain  Bunting, said  I,  “ this  lady  and  myself  are 
shipwrecked  people,  very  eager  indeed  to  get  home.  We  have 
met  with  some  hard  adventures,  and  this  lady,  the  daughter 
of  the  master  of  the  bark  ‘ Anine/  has  not  only  undergone  the 
miseries  of  shipwreck,  the  hardships  of  a raft,  and  some  days 
of  wretchedness  aboard  that  open  boat  alongside:  she  has  been 
afflicted,  besides,  by  the  death  of  her  father. 


16G 


MY  DANISH  SWKK'llli'Airr. 


“ Very  sorry,  indeed,  to  hear  it,  miss,^^  said  the  captain; 
“ but  let  this  be  your  consolation,  that  every  man’s  earthly 
father  is  bound  to  die  at  some  time  or  other,  but  man’s  Heav- 
enly Father  remains  with  him  forever.” 

Helga  bowed  her  head.  Language  of  this  kind  in  the  mouth 
of  a plain  sea  captain  comforted  me  greatly  as  a warrant  of 
good-will  and  help. 

“ ]’m  sure,”  said  1,  “ 1 may  count  upon  your  kindness  to 
receive  this  lady  and  me  and  put  us  aboard  the  first  home- 
ward-bound  ship  that  we  may  encounter.” 

Why,  of  course,  it  is  my  duty  as  a Christian  man,”  he 
answered,  “to  be  of  service  to  all  sorrowing  persons  that  1 
may  happen  to  fall  in  with.  A Deal  lugger — as  I may  pre- 
sume your  little  ship  to  be — is  no  fit  abode  for  a young  lady  of 
sweet-and-twenty — ” 

He  was  about  to  add  something,  but  at  that  moment  Abra- 
ham came  up  the  ladder,  followed  by  the  white  man  whom  I 
had  noticed  standing  on  the  forecastle. 

“ What  can  1 do  for  you,  my  man?”  said  the  captain,  turn- 
ing to  Abraham. 

“ Whoy,  sir,  it’s  loike  this — ” began  Abraham. 

“ He  wants  us  to  give  him  a spare  boom  to  serve  as  a mast, 
sir,”  clipped  in  the  other,  who,  as  I presently  got  to  know, 
was  the  first  mate  of  the  vessel — a sandy-haired,  pale-faced 
man,  with  the  lightest-blue  eyes  I had  ever  seen,  a little  pimple 
of  a nose,  which  the  sun  had  caught,  and  which  glowed  red, 
in  violent  contrast  with  his  veal-colored  cheeks.  He  was 
dressed  in  a plain  suit  of  pilot  cloth,  with  a shovel-peaked 
cap;  but  the  old  pair  of  carpet  slippers  he  wore  gave  him  a 
down-at-heels  look. 

“ A spare  boom!”  cried  the  captain.  “ That’s  a big  order, 
my  lad.  Why,  the  sight  of  your  boat  made  me  think  I hadn’t 
got  rid  of  the  Downs  yet!  There’s  no  hoveling  to  be  done 
down  here,  is  there?” 

“ They’re  carrying  out  the  boat  to  Australia,  sir!”  said  the 
mate. 

The  captain  looked  hard  at  Abraham. 

“ For  a consideration,.  I suppose?”  said  he. 

“ Ay,  sir,  for  a consideration,  as  you  say,”  responded 
Abraham,  grinning  broadly,  and  clearly  very  much  gratified 
by  the  captain’s  reception  of  him. 

“ Then,”  said  the  captain,  pulling  down  his  whiskers  and 
smiling  with  an  expression  of  self-complacency  not  to  be  con- 
veyed in  words,  “ J do  not  for  a moment  doubt  that  you  are 
carrying  that  lugger  to  Australia,  for  my  opinion  of  the  Deal 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAKT. 


167 


boatmen  is  this:  that  for  a consideration  they  would  carry 
their  immortal  souls  to  the  gates  of  thedevirs  palace,  and  then 
return  to  their  public-houses,  get  drunk  on  the  money  they 
had  received,  and  roll  about  bragging  how  they  had  bested 
Old  Nick  himself!  Spare  boom  for  a mast,  eh?^^  he  contin- 
ued, peering  into  Abraham’s  face.  “ What^s  your  name,  my 
man?^’ 

‘‘Abraham  Vise,  answered  the  boatman,  apparently  too 
much  astonished  as  yet  to  be  angry. 

“ Well,  see  here,  friend  Abraham,  said  the  captain,  turn- 
ing up  his  eyes  and  blandly  pointing  aloft,  “ my  ship  isn’t  a 
forest,  and  spare  booms  don’t  grow  aboard  us.  And  yet,’^ 
said  he,  once  again  peering  closely  into  Abraham’s  face, 
“ you’re  evidently  a fellow-Christian  in  distress,  and  it’s  my 
duty  to  help  you!  I suppose  you  are  a Christian?” 

“ Born  one!”  answered  Abraham. 

“ Then,  Mr.  Jones,”  exclaimed  the  captain,  “ go  round  the 
ship  with  friend  Abraham  Vise,  and  see  what’s  to  be  come  at 
in  the  shape  of  a spare  boom.  Off  with  you  now!  Time’s 
time  on  the  ocean,  and  I can’t  keep  my  tops’ 1 aback  all  day.” 

The  two  men  went  off  the  poop.  The  captain  asked  me  my 
name,  then  inquired  Helga’s  and  said:  “ Mr.  Tregarthen,  and 
you.  Miss  Nielsen,  I will  ask  you  to  step  below.  I have  a 
drop  of  wine  in  my  cabin,  and  a glass  of  it  can  hurt  neither 
of  you.  Come  along  if  you  please,”  and  so  saying  he  led  the 
way  to  a little  companion-hatch,  down  which  he  bundled,  with 
Helga  and  myself  in  his  wake;  and  I recollect,  as  I turned  to- 
put  my  foot  upon  the  first  of  the  steps;  that  I took  notice 
(with  a sort  of  wonder  in  me  that  passed  through  my  mind 
with  the  velocity  of  thought)  of  the  lemon-colored  face  of  a 
man  standing  at  the  wheel,  with  such  a scowl  upon  his  brow, 
that  looked  to  be  withered  by  the  sun  to  the  aspect  of  the  rind 
of  a rotten  orange,  and  with  such  a fierce,  glaring  expression 
in  his  dusky  eyes,  the  pupils  of  which  lay  like  a drop  of  ink 
slowly  filtering  out  upon  a slip  of  colored  blotting-paper,  that 
but  for  the  hurry  I was  in  to  follow  the  captain  I must  have 
lingered  to  glance  again  and  yet  again  at  the  strange,  fierce, 
forbidding  creature. 

We  entered  a plain  little  state-cabin,  or  living-room,  filled 
with  the  furniture  that  is  commonly  to  be  seen  in  craft  of 
this  sort— a table,  lockers,  two  or  three  chairs,  a swinging 
tray,  a lamp,  and  the  like.  The  captain  asked  us  to  sit,  and 
disappeared  in  a berth  forward  of  the  state-cabin;  but  he  re- 
turned too  speedily  to  suffer  Helga  and  me  to  exchange  words. 
He  put  a bottle  of  Marsala  upon  the  table,  took  the  wine- 


1G8 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


glasses  from  a rack  affixed  to  a beam,  and  prod  need  f roni  a 
side-locker  a plate  of  mixed  biscuits.  He  lilled  (lie  glasses, 
and,  with  his  singular  smile  and  equally  curious  bow,  drank 
our  healths,  adding  that  he  hoped  to  have  the  pleasure  of 
speedily  tiansshiping  us. 

He  had  removed  his  wideawake  hat,  and  there  was  nothing, 
for  the  moment,  to  distract  me  from  a swift  but  comprehen- 
sive survey  of  him.  He  had  a long  hooked  nose,  small,  rest- 
less eyes,  and  hair  so  plentiful  that  it  curled  upon  his  back. 
His  cheeks  wore  perfectly  colorless,  and  of  an  unwholesome 
dinginess,  and  hung  very  fat  behind  his  long  whiskers,  and  I 
found  him  remarkable  for  the  appearance  of  his  moulh,  the 
upper  lip  of  which  was  as  thick  as  the  lower.  He  might  have 
passed  very  well  for  a London  tradesman— a man  who  had  be- 
come almost  bloodless  through  long  years  of  serving  behind  a 
counter  in  a dark  shop.  He  had  nothing  whatever  of  the 
sailor  in  his  aspect — I do  not  mean  the  theatrical  sailor,  our 
old  friend  of  the  purple  nose  and  grog-blossomed  skin,  but  of 
that  ordinary  every-day  mariner  whom  one  may  meet  with  in 
thousands  in  the  docks  of  Great  Britain.  But  that,  however, 
which  I seemed  to  find  most  remarkable  in  him  was  his  smile. 
It  was  the  haunting  of  his  countenance  by  the  very  specter  of 
mirth.  There  was  no  life,  no  sincerity  in  it.  Nevertheless,  it 
caused  a perpetual  play  of  features  more  or  less  defined,  in- 
formed by  an  expression  which  made  one  instantly  perceive 
that  Captain  Joppa  Bunting  had  the  highest  possible  opinion 
of  himself. 

He  asked  me  for  my  story,  and  I gave  it  him,  he,  mean- 
while, listening  to  me  with  his  singular  smile,  and  his  eyes 
almost  embarrassingly  rooted  upon  my  face. 

“Ah!^’  cried  he,  fetching  a deep  sigh,  “a  noble  cause  is 
the  life-boat  service.  Heaven  bless  its  sublime  efforts!  and  it 
is  gratifying  to  know  that  her  majesty  the  queen  is  a patron 
of  the  institution.  Mr.  Tregarthen,  your  conscience  should  be 
very  acceptable  to  you,  sir,  when  you  come  to  consider  that 
but  for  you  this  charming  young  lady  must  have  perished  — 
he  motioned  toward  Helga  with  an  ungainly  inclination  of  his 
body. 

“ I think,  captain,  said  I,  you  must  put  it  the  other  way 
about — 1 mean,  that  but  for  Miss  Nielsen  I \ . ust  have 
perished. 

“ Nielsen — Nielsen, said  he,  repeating  the  words.  “ That 
is  not  an  English  name,  is  it?^^ 

“ Captain  Nielsen  was  a Dane,^^  said  1. 

“ But  you  are  not  a Lane,  madame?^’  he  exclaimed* 


MY  DANISH  SWEETIIEAPT.  169 

‘‘  My  mother  was  English/^  she  answered,  “ but  I am  a 
Dane,  nevertheless. 

“ What  is  the  religion  of  the  Danes?^^  he  asked, 

“ We  are  a Protestant  people,^^  she  answered,  while  I stared 
at  the  man,  wondering  whether  he  was  perfectly  sound  in  his 
head,  for  nothing  could  seem  more  malapropos  at  such  a 
time  as  this  than  his  questions  about,  and  his  references  to, 
religion. 

“ What  is  your  denomination,  madame?^^  he  asked,  smiling, 
with  a drag  at  one  long  whisker. 

“ I thought  I had  made  you  understand  that  1 was  a Prot- 
estant,^^ she  answered,  with  an  instant’s  petulance. 

“ There  are  many  sorts  of  Protestants!”  he  exclaimed. 

“ Have  not  you  a black  crew?”  said  I,  anxious  to  change 
the  subject,  sending  a glance  in  search  of  Abraham  through 
the  window  of  the  little  door  that  led  on  to  the  quarter-deck, 
and  that  was  framed  on  either  hand  by  a berth  or  sleeping- 
room,  from  one  of  which  the  captain  had  brought  the  wine. 

‘‘  Yes,  my  crew  are  black,”  said  he;  ‘‘  black  here  ” — he 
touched  his  face — ‘‘and,  1 fear,  black  here” — he  put  his 
hand  upon  his  heart.  “ But  I have  some  hope  of  beating  out 
one  superstition  from  them  before  we  let  go  our  anchor  in 
Table  Bay!” 

As  he  said  these  words  a sudden  violent  shock  was  to  be  felt 
in  the  cabin,  as  though,  indeed,  the  ship,  as  she  dropped  her 
stern  into  the  trough,  had  struck  the  ground.  All  this  time 
the  vessel  had  been  rolling  and  plunging  somewhat  heavily  as 
she  lay  with  her  topsail  to  the  mast  in  the  very  swing  of  the 
sea;  but,  after  the  uneasy  feverish  friskings  of  the  lugger,  the 
motion  was  so  long-drawn,  so  easy,  so  comfortable,  in  a word, 
that  I had  sat  and  talked  scarcely  sensible  of  it.  But  the  sud- 
den shock  could  not  have  been  more  startling,  more  seemingly 
violent,  had  a big  ship  driven  into  us.  A loud  cry  followed. 
Captain  Bunting  sprung  to  his  feet;  at  the  same  moment,  there 
was  a hurried  tramp  and  rush  of  footsteps  overhead,  and  more 
cries.  Captain  Bunting  ran  to  the  companion-steps,  up  which 
he  hopped  with  incredible  alacritj^ 

“ I fear  the  lugger  has  been  driven  against  the  vessel’s 
side!”  said  Helga. 

“ Oh,  Heaven,  yes!”  1 cried.  “ But  I trust,  for  the  poor 
fellows’  sake,  she  is  not  injured.  Let  us  go  on  deck!” 

We  ran  up  the  steps,  and  the  very  first  object  I saw  as  I 
passed  through  the  hatch  W’as  Jacob’s  face,  purple  with  the 
toil  of  climbing,  rising  over  the  rail  on  the  quarter.  Abraham 


170 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


and  two  or  three  colored  men  grasped  the  poor  fellow,  and 
over  he  lioundered  on  to  the  deck  streaming  wet. 

Helga  and  I ran  to  the  side  to  see  what  had  happened. 
There  was  no  need  to  look  long.  Directly  under  the  ship^s 
quarter  lay  the  lugger  with  the  water  sluicing  into  her.  The 
whole  of  one  side  of  her  was  crushed  as  though  an  army  of 
workmen  had  been  hammering  at  her  with  choppers.  We  had 
scarcely  time  to  glance  before  she  was  gone!  a sea  foamed  over 
and  filled  her  out  of  hand,  and  down  she  went  like  a stone, 
with  a snap  of  the  line  that  held  her  as  though  it  had  been 
thread,  to  the  lift  of  the  bark  from  the  drowning  fabric. 

“ Gone!’^  cried  I.  Heaven  preserve  us!  What  will  our 
poor  friends  do?’' 

Captain  Bunting  was  roaring  out  in  true  sea-fashion.  He 
might  continue  to  smile,  indeed;  but  his  voice  had  lost  its 
nasal  twang. 

“How  did  this  happen?"  he  bawled.  “Why  on  earth 
wasn't  the  lugger  kept  fended  off?  Mr.  Jones,  jump  into  that 
quarter-boat  and  see  if  we've  received  any  injury." 

The  mate  hopped  into  the  boat,  and  craned  over. 

“ It  seems  all  right  with  us,  sir!"  he  cried. 

“ Well,  then,  how  did  this  happen?"  exclaimed  the  captain, 
addressing  Jacob,  who  stood,  the  very  picture  of  distress  and 
dejection,  with  the  water  running  away  upon  the  deck  from 
his  feet,  and  draining  from  his  finger-ends  as  his  arms  hung 
up  and  down  as  though  he  stood  in  a shower-bath. 

“ I'd  gone  forward,"  answered  the  poor  fellow,  “ to  slacken 
away  the  line  that  the  lugger  might  drop  clear,  and  then  it 
happened,  and  that's  all  I know;"  and  here  he  slowly  turned 
his  half-drowned  bewildered  face  upon  Abraham,  who  was 
staring  over  the  rail  down  upon  the  sea  where  the  lugger  had 
sunk,  as  though  rendered  motionless  by  a stroke  of  paralysis. 

“ Well,  and  what'll  you  do  now?"  cried  Captain  Bunting. 

“Do?  Whoy,  chuck  myself  overboard!"  shouted  Jacob, 
apparently  quickened  into  his  old  vitality  by  the  anguish  of 
sudden  realization. 

“Shocking!'’  cried  Captain  Bunting.  “I  shall  have  to 
talk  apart  with  you,  my  man." 

Here  Abraham  slowly  looked  round,  and  then  turned  and 
lay  against  the  rail,  eying  us  lifelessly. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


171 


CHAPTEE  XV. 

CAPTAIN  JOPPA  BUNTING. 

There  were  four  or  five  colored  seamen  standing  near  look- 
ing  on.  Though  I could  not  have  been  sure,  I guessed  them 
to  be  Malays  by  the  somewhat  Chinese  cast  of  their  features. 
I had  seen  such  faces  once  before,  discoloring  a huddle  of  white 
countenances  of  European  seamen  looking  over  the  side  of  a 
ship,  anchored  in  our  bay,  at  the  life-boat  I was  in  charge  of 
for  an  hour  or  two  of  practice.  I also  caught  the  fierce  lemon- 
colored  creature  at  the  wheel  following  the  captain,  as  he  moved 
about,  with  his  stealthy  dusky  eyes;  but  more  than  this  I had 
not  time  to  take  notice  of. 

“ Abraham,^^  I exclaimed,  approaching  him,  ‘‘  this  is  a bad 
business."" 

“ Ay,""  he  muttered,  drying  his  lips  upon  his  knuckles. 
“ There"s  nothen  to  do  now  but  to  get  home  again.  I laid 
out  fifteen  pounds  for  myself  on  this  here  job,  an",  it"s  gone, 
and  gone"s  too  the  money  we  was  to  take  up.  Oh,  Jacob, 
matey!  how  came  it  about — how  came  it  about?""  he  cried, 
in  a voice  of  bitter  grief  that  was  without  the  least  hint  of 
temper  or  reproach. 

“ Ye"ve  heard,  Abraham,""  answered  the  other,  speaking 
brokenly.  “ Gord  He  knows  how  it  happened.  I"d  ha"  given 
ten  toimes  ower  the  money  we  was  to  aim  that  this  here  mucking 
job  had  been  your"n  instead  o"  mine,  that  I might  feel  as  sorry 
for  ye,  Abey,  as  ye  are  for  me,  mate. " " 

“Is  she  clean  gone?""  cried  Captain  Bunting,  looking  over 
the  quarter.  “ Yes,  clean.  Nothing  but  her  boat  floating, 
and  a few  spars.  It  is  spilled  milk,  and  not  to  be  recovered 
by  tears.  You  two  men  will  have  to  go  along  with  us  till  we 
can  send  the  four  of  you  home.  Mr.  Jones,  fill  on  your  top- 
sail, if  you  please.  Hi!  you  Pallunappacheley,  swab  up  that 
wet  there,  d"ye  hear?  Now  Moona,  now  Yong  Soon  Wat,  and 
you,  Shayoo  Saibo — maintopsail-braee,  and  bear  a hand!"" 

While  the  topsail-yard  was  in  the  act  of  swinging  I observed 
that  Abraham"s  countenance  suddenly  changed.  A fit  of 
temper,  resembling  his  outbreak  when  the  Hamburger  had 
passed  us,  darkened  his  face.  He  rolled  his  eyes  fiercely,  then, 
plucking  off  his  cap,  flung  it  savagely  down  upon  the  deck, 
and,  while  he  tumbled  and  sprawled  about  in  a sort  of  mad 
dance,  he  bawled  at  the  top  of  his  voice: 

“ I says  it  can’t  be  true!  Wliat  I says  is,  it"s  a dream — a 


MY  'i)AKlSIi  SWEETHMKT. 


m 

blooming,  measly  dream!  The  ‘Airly  Marn  ^ foundered!^’ 
Here  he  gave  his  cap  a kick  that  sent  it  flying  the  length  of  the 
poop.  “ It^s  a loie,  I says.  It  was  to  ha’  been  seventy-foive 
pound  a man,  and  there  was  two  gone,  whose  shares  would  ha’ 
been  our’n.  And  where’s  moy  fifteen  pound  vorth  o’  goods? 
Cuss  the  hour,  I says,  that  ever  we  fell  in  with  this  bark!” 

lie  raved  in  this  fashion  for  some  minutes,  the  captain 
meanwhile  eying  him  with  his  head  on  one  side,  as  though 
striving  to  find  out  whether  he  was  drunk  or  mad.  He  then 
rushed  to  the  side  with  an  impetuosity  that  made  me  fear  he 
meant  to  spring  overboard,  and,  looking  down  for  a moment, 
he  bellowed  forth,  shaking  his  clinched  fist  at  the  sea: 

“ Yes,  then  she  is  gone,  and  ’tain’t  a dream!” 

He  fetched  his  thigh  a mighty  slap,  and,  wheeling  round, 
stared  at  us  in  the  manner  of  one  temporarily  bereft  of  his 
senses  by  the  apparition  of  something  he  finds  horrible. 

“ Those  Deal  boatmen  have  excitable  natures!”  said  Cap- 
tain Joppa  Bunting,  addressing  me,  fixedly  smiling  and  passing 
his  fingers  through  a whisker  as  he  spoke. 

“ I trust  you  will  bear  with  the  poor  fellows,”  said  I;  “ it 
is  a heavy  loss  to  the  men,  and  a death-blow  to  big  expecta^ 
tions.” 

“ Temper  is  excusable  occasionally  at  sea,”  observed  the  cap^ 
tain;  “ but  language  1 never  permit.  Yet  that  unhappy 
Christian  soul  ought  to  be  borne  with,  as  you  say,  seeing  that 
he  is  a poor  ignorant  man  very  sorely  tried.  Abraham  Vise, 
come  here!”  he  called. 

“ His  name  is  Wise,”  said  I. 

“ Wise,  come  here!”  he  shouted. 

Abraham  approached  us  with  a slow,  rolling  gait,  and  a 
face  in  which  temper  was  now  somewhat  clouded  by  bewilder- 
ment. 

“ Abraham,”  said  the  captain,  looking  from  him  to  Jacob, 
who  leaned,  wet  through,  against  the  rail,  with  a dogged  face 
and  his  eyes  rooted  upon  the  deck,  “ you  have  met  with  one 
of  those  severe  reverses  which  happen  entirely  for  the  good  of 
the  sufferer,  however  he  may  object  to  take  that  view.  De- 
pend upon  it,  my  man,  that  the  loss  of  your  lugger  is  for  some 
wise  purpose.” 

Abraham  looked  at  him  with  an  eye  whose  gaze  delivered 
the  word  damn  as  articulately  as  ever  lips  could  have  uttered 
the  expletive. 

“ You  two  men  were  going  in  that  small  open  boat  to  Aus- 
tralia,” continued  the  captain,  with  a paternal  air  and  a nasal 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEARTa 


173 


voice,  and  smiling  always.  “ Do  you  suppose  you  would  ever 
have  reached  that  distant  coast?^^ 

‘‘  Sartainly  I dew,  sir,^^  cried  Abraham,  hoarsely,  with  a 
vehement  nod. 

“ 1 say  no,  then!^^  thundered  the  captain.  “ Two  of  you: 
Why,  Dve  fallen  in  with  smaller  luggers  than  yours  cruising  in 
the  channel  with  eight  of  a crew.''^ 

shouted  Abraham.  '‘Andvy?  Only  ask  yourself 
the  question!  Tause  they  carry  men  to  ship  as  pilots.  But 
tew  can  handle  a lugger. 

“I  say  no!^^  thundered  the  captain  again.  “What?  All 
the  way  from  the  Chops  to  Sydney  Bay?  Who’s  your  navi- 
gator?” 

“ Oy  am,”  answered  Abraham. 

The  captain  curved  his  odd,  double-lipped  mouth  into  a 
sneer,  that  yet  somehow  did  not  disugise  or  alter  his  habitual 
or  congenital  smile,  while  he  ran  his  eye  over  the  boatsman’s 
figure. 

“ You!”  he  cried,  pausing  and  bursting  in  to  a loud  laugh; 
then,  resuming  his  nasal  intonation,  he  continued.  “Mark 
you  this  now.  The  loss  of  your  lugger  alongside  my  bark  is  a 
miracle  wrought  by  a bountiful  Heaven  to  extend  your  exist- 
ence, which  you  were  deliberately  attempting  to  cut  short  by  a 
dreadful  act  of  folly,  so  dreadful  that  had  you  perished  by  a 
like  behavior  ashore  you  would  have  been  buried  with  a stake 
through  your  middle!” 

He  turned  up  his  eyes  till  little  more  than  the  whites  of 
them  were  visible.  Grieved  as  I was  for  poor  Abraham,  I 
scarcely  saved  myself  from  bursting  out  laughing,  so  ludicrous 
was  the  shifting  emotions  which  worked  in  his  face,  and  so 
absurd  Jacob’s  fixed  stare  of  astonishment  and  wrath. 

“ Now  men,”  continued  the  captain,  “ you  can  go  forward. 
What’s  your  name?” 

“Jacob  Minnikin,  sir,”  answered  the  boatman,  speakiijg 
thickly  and  with  difficulty. 

“ Get  you  to  the  galley,  Jacob  Minnikin,”  said  the  captain, 
“ and  dry  your  clothes.  The  chief  mate  will  show  you  where 
to  find  a couple  of  spare  bunks  in  the  forecastle.  Go  and 
warm  yourselves  and  get  something  to  eat.  You’ll  be  willing 
to  work,  I hope,  in  return  for  my  keeping  you  until  I can 
send  you  home?” 

Abraham  sullenly  mumbled,  “ Yes,  sir.” 

“ All  right.  We  may  not  be  long  together;  but  while  I 
have  you  I shall  be  thankful  for  you.  We  are  a black  crew, 


174 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


and  the  sight  of  a couple  of  white  faces  forward  will  do  me 
good.  Off  you  go,  now!’^ 

Without  another  word  the  two  men  trudged  off  the  poop; 
but  I could  hear  them  muttering  to  each  other  as  they  went 
down  the  ladder. 

Some  time  before  this  they  had  trimmed  sail,  and  the  bark 
was  once  again  clumsily  breaking  the  seas,  making  a deal  of 
noisy  sputtering  at  her  cutwater  to  the  stoop  of  her  apple - 
shaped  bows,  and  rolling  and  plunging  as  though  she  were 
contending  with  the  surge  of  Agulhas  or  the  Horn.  I sent 
my  sight  around  the  ocean,  but  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen. 
The  atmosphere  had  slightly  thickened,  and  it  was  blowing 
fresh,  but  the  wind  was  on  the  quarter,  and  the  mate  had  found 
nothing  in  the  weather  to  hinder  him  from  showing  the  mainsail 
to  it  again  with  the  port  clew  up.  But  the  captain^s  talk  pre- 
vented me  from  making  further  observations  at  that  time. 

“These  two  men,^^  said,  he,  “have  very  good,  honest, 
substantial.  Scriptural  names.  Abraham  and  Jacob,  he 
smacked  his  lips.  “I  like  ^em.  I consider  myself  fortunate 
in  the  name  of  Joppa, he  continued,  looking  from  me  to 
Helga.  “ I might  have  been  called  Eobert.^^ 

You  would  have  thought  that  the  smile  which  accompanied 
this  speech  was  designed  to  point  it  as  a joke,  but  a moment^s 
observation  assured  me  that  it  was  a fixed  expression. 

“ 1 have  observed,^^  he  w^ent  on,  “ that  the  lower  orders  are 
very  dull  and  tardy  in  arriving  at  an  appreciation  of  the  mis- 
fortunes which  befall  them.  Those  two  men3  sir,  are  not  in  the 
least  degree  grateful  for  the  loss  of  their  lugger,  by  which,  as 
1 told  them,  their  lives  have  been  undoubtedly  preserved. 

“ They  are  poor  men,^^  said  Helga,  “ and  do  not  know  how 
to  be  grateful  for  the  loss  of  perhaps  very  nearly  all  that  they 
have  in  the  world. 

He  looked  at  her  smilingly,  with  a glance  down  her  figure, 
and  exclaimed:  “I  am  quite  sure  that  when  your  poor  dear 
father bark  sunk  you  did  not  resent  the  decree  of  Heaven. 

Helga  held  her  peace. 

“ Was  she  insured,  madame?^^  he  asked. 

She  answered  briefly  “ Yes,^’  not  choosing  to  enter  into  ex- 
planations. 

He  surveyed  her  thoughtfully,  with  his  head  on  one  side; 
then,  addressing  me,  he  said: 

“ ITie  man  Abraham,  now.  I take  it  he  was  skipper  of  the 
lugger?^^ 

“ Yes,  he  was  so,^’  said  I. 

“ Is  it  possible  that  he  knows  anything  of  navigation?^^ 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


175 


**  1 fear  his  acquaintance  with  that  art  is  small.  He  can 
blunder  upon  the  latitude  with  the  aid  of  an  old  quadrant,  but 
he  leaves  his  longitude  to  dead  reckoning. 

“And  yet  he  was  going  to  Australia!'’^  cried  the  captain, 
tossing  his  pale,  fleshy  hands  and  upturning  his  eyes.  “ Still, 
he  is  a respectable  man?^^ 

“ A large-hearted,  good  man,^^  cried  Helga,  warmly. 

He  surveyed  her  again  thoughtfully  with  his  head  on  one 
side,  slowly  combing  down  one  whisker,  then  addressing  me: 

“ I am  rather  awkwardly  situated,^""  said  he.  “ Mr.  Ephraim 
Jones  and  myself  are  the  only  two  white  men  aboard  this  ves- 
sel. Jones  is  an  Only  Mate.  You  know  what  that  means?^^ 

I shook  my  head  in  my  ignorance,  with  a glance  at  Helga. 

“Captain  Bunting  means, she  answered,  smiling  “that 
Only  Mate  is  literally  the  only  mate  that  is  carried  in  a ship.^^ 

He  stared  at  her  with  lifted  eyebrows,  and  then  gave  her  a 
bow. 

“ Eight,  madame/^  said  he.  “ And  when  you  are  married, 
dear  lady,  you  will  take  all  care,  I trust,  that  your  husband 
shall  be  your  Only  Mate.^^ 

She  slightly  colored,  and  as  she  swayed  to  the  rolling  deck  1 
caught  sight  of  her  little  foot  petulantly  beatmg  the  plank  for 
a moment.  It  was  clear  that  Captain  Bunting  was  not  going 
to  commend  himself  to  her  admiration  by  his  wit. 

“ You  were  talking  about  Abraham,^^  said  1. 

“No,  I was  talking,  about  Jones,^^  he  answered,  “and 
attempting  to  explain  the  somewhat  unpleasant  fix  I am  in. 
The  man  who  acted  as  second  mate  was  the  carpenter  of  the 
bark,  a fellow  named  Winstanley.  I fear  he  went  mad,  after 
we  were  a day  out.  Whether  he  jumped  overboard  or  fell 
overboard,  I can  not  say.  ^ ^ He  made  a wild  grimace,  as  though 
the  recollection  shocked  him.  “ There  was  nothing  for  it  but 
to  pursue  the  voyage  with  my  Only  Mate;  and  I,  of  course, 
have  to  keep  watch  and  watch  with  him— a very  great  incon- 
venience to  me.  I believe  Abraham  Wise— or  Vise,  as  he 
calls  himself — would  excellently  fill  the  post  vacated  by  Win- 
stanley. 

“ He  wants  to  get  home,^^  said  L, 

“ Yet  I might  tempt  him  to  remain  with  me,^^  said  he, 
smiling.  “ There^s  no  melody  so  alluring  to  a Deal  boatman ^s 
ears  as  the  jingling  of  silver  dollars. 

“ You  will  find  him  thoroughly  trustworthy,^^  said  Helga. 

“ We  will  wait  a little— we  will  wait  a little!^^  he  exclaimed, 
blandly. 

“Of  course.  Captain  Bunting, said  I,  “ your  views  in  the 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


17f> 

direction  of  Abraham  will  not,  I am  sure,  hinder  you  from 
seiuling  Miss  Nielsen  and  myself  to  England  at  the  very  earli- 
est opportunity.^^  And  I found  my  eye  going  seaward  over 
iiie  bark^s  bow  as  I spoke. 

“ The  very  first  vessel  that  comes  along  you  shall  be  sent 
aboMid  of,  providing,  to  be  sure,  she  will  receive  you.^^ 

i tiianked  him  heartily,  and  also  added,  in  the  most  delicate 
manner  I could  contrive  on  the  instant,  that  all  expense  in- 
curred by  his  keeping  us  should  be  defrayed.  He  fiourished 
his  fat  hand. 

“ That  is  language  to  be  addressed  to  the  Pharisee,  sir — not 
to  the  Samaritan. 

All  this  was  exceedingly  gratifying.  My  spirits  rose,  and  I 
felt  in  a very  good  humor  with  him.  He  looked  at  his  watch. 

‘‘  Five  o^clock,^^  said  he.  “ Mr.  Jones, he  called  to  the 
mate,  who  was  standing  forward  at  the  head  of  the  little  poop- 
ladder,  “ you  can  go  below  and  get  your  supper,  then  relieve 
me.  Tell  Punmeamootty  to  put  some  cold  beef  and  pickles 
on  the  table.  Better  let  him  set  the  ham  on  too,  and  tell  the 
fuol  that  it  won’t  bite  him,  because  it  was  once  a pig.  Pun- 
mearnootty  can  make  some  coffee,  Mr.  Jones;  or  perhaps  you 
drink  tea?”  said  he,  turning  to  Helga.  “ Weil,  both,  Mr. 
Jones,  both,”  he  shouted:  ‘‘tea  and  coffee.  Make  a good 
meal,  sir,  and  then  come  and  relieve  me.  ” 

The  mate  vanished.  Captain  Bunting  drew  back  by  a step 
or  two  to  cast  a look  aloft.  He  then,  with  a sailorly  eye, 
mothought,  despite  his  wiskers  and  dingy  fleshy  face  and  flxed 
smile,  sent  a searching  glance  to  windward,  following  it  on 
wiih  a cautious  survey  of  the  horizon.  He  next  took  a peep 
at  the  compass,  and  said  something  to  a mahogany-colored 
man  who  had  replaced  the  flerce-looking  fellow^  at  the  wheel. 
1 observed  that  when  the  captain  approached  the  man  stirred 
uiuasily  in  his  shoes,  ’twixt  which  and  the  foot  of  his  blue 
dungaree  breeches  there  lay  visible  the  bare  yellow  flesh  of 
lifs  ankles. 

1 said  softly  and  quickly  to  Helga,  “ This  is  a very  extraor- 
dinary shipmaster.” 

“ Something  in  him  repels  me,”  she  answered. 

“ lie  is  behaving  kindly  and  hospitably,  though.” 

“ Yes,  Hugh;  still  I shall  be  glad  to  leave  the  bark.  What 
a very  strange  crew  the  ship  carries!  What  are  they?” 

“ i will  ask  him,”  said  I,  and  at  that  moment  he  rejoined 
us. 

“Captain,”  1 exclaimed,  “what  countrymen  are  your 
sailors,  pray?” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


m 


“Mostly  Malays,  with  a few  Cingalese  among  them, he 
answered.  “ I got  them  on  a sudden,  and  was  glad  of  them, 
I can  tell  you.  I had  shipped  an  ordinary  European  crew  in 
the  Thames;  and  in  the  Downs,  where  we  lay  wind-bound  for 
three  days,  every  man-jack  of  them,  saving  Mr.  Jones  and 
Winstanley,  lowered  that  quarter- boat,^^  said^he,  nodding  to  it, 
“ one  dark  night,  chucked  their  traps  in,  and  went  away  for 
Dover  round  the  South  Foreland.  I recovered  the  boat,  and 
was  told  that  there  was  a crew  of  Malays  lodged  at  the  Sailor’s 
Home  at  Dover.  A vessel  from  Ceylon  that  had  touched  at 
the  Cape  and  taken  in  some  colored  seamen  there  had  strand- 
ed, a night  or  two  before  my  men  ran,  somewhere  off  the  South 
Sand  Head.  She  was  completely  wrecked,  and  her  crew  were 
brought  to  Dover.  There  were  eleven  of  them  in  all,  with  a 
boss  or  bo’s’n  or  serang,  call  him  what  you  will — there  he  is!’^ 
He  pointed  to  a dark-skinned  fellow  on  the  forecastle. 
“ Well,  to  cut  the  story  short,  when  these  fellows  heard  I was 
bound  to  the  Cape  they  were  all  eager  to  ship.  They  offered 
their  services  for  very  little  money— very  little  money  indeed,^’ 
he  added,  smiling,  “ their  object  being  to  get  home.  1 had  no 
idea  of  being  detained  in  the  Downs  for  a crew,  and  1 had  no 
heart,  believe  me,  to  swallow  another  dose  of  the  British  mer- 
chant sailor,  so  I had  them  brought  aboard — and  there  they 
are!’^  he  exclaimed,  gazing  complacently  forward  and  aft; 
“ but  they  are  black  inside  and  out.  They^re  Mohammedans, 
to  a man,  and  now  I^m  sorry  I shipped  them,  though  I hope 
to  do  good — yes, said  he,  nodding  at  me,  “ I hope  to  do  good. 

He  communicated  to  this  final  sentence  all  the  significance 
that  it  was  in  the  power  of  his  countenance  and  manner  to 
bestow;  but  what  he  meant  I did  not  trouble  myself  to  inquire. 
Mr.  Jones  remained  below  about  ten  minutes:  he  then  arrived, 
and  the  captain,  who  was  asking  Helga  questions  about  her 
father^s  ship,  the  cause  of  her  loss,  and  the  like,  instantly  broke 
off  on  seeing  the  mate,  and  asked  us  to  follow  him  to  the 
cabin. 

The  homely  interior  looked  very  hospitable,  with  its  table 
cleanly  draped  and  pleasantly  equipped  with  provisions.  The 
colored  man  who  apparently  acted  as  steward,  and  who  bore 
the  singular  name  of  Punmeamootty,  stood,  a dusky  shadow, 
near  the  cabin  door.  Spite  of  a smoky  sunset  in  the  western 
windy  haze,  the  gloom  of  the  evening  in  the  east  was  already 
upon  the  ocean,  and  the  cabin,  as  we  entered  it,  showed  some"- 
what  darksome  to  the  sight;  yet  though  the  figure  of  the  Malay, 
as  I have  already  said,  was  no  more  than  a shadow,  I could 
distinctly  see  his  gleaming  eyes  even  from  the  distance  of  the 


178 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


companion  steps;  and  I believe  had  it  been  much  darker  still 
I should  have  beheld  his  eyes  looking  at  us  from  the  other  end 
of  the  cabin. 

“ Light  the  lamp,  Punmeaniootty!^^  said  the  captain. 
“ Now,  let  me  see,^^  said  he,  throwing  his  wideawake  on  to  a 
locker,  ‘‘  we  call  the  last  meal  supper,  at  sea,  Miss  Nielsen.^’ 

‘‘  Yes,  I know  that,^^  she  answered. 

“ Before  we  go  to  supper, he  continued,  you  would  lik© 
to  refresh  yourself  in  a cabin.  How  about  accommodating  you, 
Mr.  Tregarthcn?  That  cabin  is  mine,^^  said  he,  pointing, 
“ and  the  one  facing  it  is  Mr.  Joneses.  There  are  four  gloomy 
little  holes  below,  one  of  which  was  occupied  by  pour  Win- 
stanley,  and  the  others.  If  ear,  are  choke-full  of  stores  and  odds 
and  ends.^^  He  eyed  her  for  a moment  meditatively.  “ Come,^^ 
said  he;  “you  are  a lady  and  must  be  made  comfortable, 
however  short  your  stay  with  me  may  be.  Mr.  Jones  will 
give  up  his  cabin,  and  go  into  the  steerage!"^ 

“And  Mr.  Tregarthen?^^  said  Helga. 

“ Oh,  I’ll  set  some  of  our  darkies  after  supper  to  make  ready 
one  of  the  berths  below  for  him.’’ 

“ I do  not  wish  to  be  separated  from  Mr.  Tregarthen,”  said 
Helga. 

Captain  Bunting  looked  at  her,  then  at  me,  then  at  her  left 
hand,  for  the  colored  steward  had  now  lighted  the  lamp  and  we 
were  conversing  close  to  it. 

“You  are  Miss  Nielsen?”  said  the  captain.  “ Have  I mis- 
taken?” 

The  blood  rose  to  the  girl’s  cheek. 

“No,  you  have  not  mistaken,”  said  I;  “ Miss  Nielsen  and 
1 have  now  for  some  days  been  fellow- sufferers,  and,  for  ac- 
quaintance’ sake,  she  wishes  her  berth  to  be  near  mine!” 

This  I said  soothingly,  for  1 thought  the  skipper’s  brow  looked 
a little  clouded. 

“Be  it  so,”  said  he,  with  a bland  flourish  of  both  hands: 
“ meanwhile,  madame,  such  conveniences  as  my  cabin  affords 
are  at  your  service  for  immediate  use.” 

She  hesitated,  but  on  meeting  my  eye  seemed  immediately  to 
catch  what  was  in  my  mind,  and,  smiling  prettily,  she  thanked 
him,  and  went  at  once  to  his  cabin. 

“ The  fact  is,  sir,”  said  he,  nasally,  dragging  at  the  wrist- 
band of  his  shirt  and  looking  at  his  nails,  “ man  at  the  best, 
is  but  a very  selfish  animal,  and  cruelly  neglectful  of  the  com- 
fort and  happiness  of  women.  Pardon  my  frankness:  your 
charming  companion  has  been  exposed  for  several  days  to  the 
horrors  of  what  was  really  no  better  than  an  open  boat 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


179 


What  more  natural  than  that  she  should  wish  to  adjust  her  hair 
and  take  a peep  at  herself  in  a looking-glass?  And  yet  — 
here  he  smiled  profoundly — the  suggestion  that  she  should 
withdraw  did  not  come  from  you/^ 

“ The  kindness  of  your  reception  of  us/^  I answered,  “ as- 
sured me  that  you  would  do  everything  that  is  necessary/’ 

“ Quite  so,”  he  answered;  “ and  now,  Mr.  Tregarlhen,  1 
dare  say  a brush-up  will  comfort  you  too.  You  will  find  all 
that  you  require  in  Mr.  Jones’s  cabin. 

I thanked  him,  and  at  once  entered  the  berth,  hardly  know- 
ing as  yet  whether  to  be  amused  or  astonished  by  the  singular 
character  of  this  long-whiskered,  blandly  smiling,  and,  as  1 
might  fairly  believe,  religious  sea  captain. 

There  was  a little  window  in  the  berth  that  looked  on  to  the 
quarter-deck.  On  peering  through  it  I spied  Abraham  and 
Jacob  with  their  arms  buried  to  the  elbow  in  their  breeches 
pockets,  leaning  with  dogged  mien,  in  the  true  loafing,  loung- 
ing, ’longshore  posture  against  the  side  of  the  caboose  or  gal- 
ley. The  whole  ship’s  company  seemed  to  have  gathered  about 
them.  I counted  nine  men.  There  was  a rusty  tinge  in  the 
atmosphere  that  gave  me  a tolerable  sight  of  all  those  people. 
It  was  the  first  dog-watch,  when  the  men  would  be  free  to 
hang  about  the  decks  and  smoke  and  talk.  The  colored 
sailors  formed  a group,  in  that  dull  hectic  light,  to  dwell  upon 
the  memory — one  with  a yellow  sou’-wester,  another  with  a 
soldier’s  forge-cap  on  his  head,  a third  in  a straw  hat,  along 
with  divers  scarecrow-like  costumes  of  dungaree  and  coarse 
canvas  jumpers — here  a jacket  resembling  an  evening-dress 
coat  that  had  been  robbed  of  its  tails,  there  a pair  of  flapping 
skirts,  a red  wool  comforter,  half-wellington  boots,  old  shoes, 
and  1 know  not  what  besides. 

The  man  that  had  been  pointed  out  to  me  as  boss  to 
employ  Captain  Bunting’s  term~~was  addressing  the  two  boat- 
men as  1 looked.  He  was  talking  in  a low  voice,  and  not  the 
lightest  growl  of  his  accents  reached  me.  Now  and  again  he 
would  smite  his  hands  and  act  as  though  betrayed  by  temper 
into  a sudden  vehement  delivery,  from  which  he  swiftly  re- 
covered himself5  so  to  speak,  with  an  eager  look  aft  at  the 
poop-deck,  where,  I might  suppose,  the  mate  stood  watching 
them,  or  where,  at  all  events,  he  would  certainly  be  walking, 
on  the  lookout.  While  he  addressed  the  boatmen,  the  others 
stood  doggedly  looking  on,  all  apparently  intent  upon  the 
countenances  of  our  Deal  friends,  whose  attitude  was  one  of 
contemptuous  inattention. 

However,  by  this  time  1 had  refreshed  myself  with  a wash. 


180 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


and  now  quitted  the  cabin  after  a slight  look  round,  in  which 
I took  notice  of  the  portrait  of  a stout  lady  cut  out  in  black 
paper  and  pasted  upon  a white  card,  a telescope,  a sextant- 
case  and  a little  battery  of  pipes  in  a rack  over  the  bunk. 

Helga  arrived,  holding  her  sealskin  hat  in  her  hand.  Her 
amber-colored  hair — for  sometimes  I would  think  it  of  this 
hue,  at  others  a pale  gold,  then  a very  fine  delicate  yellow — 
showed  with  a little  roughness  in  it  as  though  she  were  fresh 
from  the  blowing  of  the  wind.  But  had  she  been  an  artist 
she  could  not  have  expressed  more  choiceness  in  her  fashion 
of  neglect.  She  had  heartened  and  brightened  greatly  since 
our  rescue  from  the  raft,  and,  though  there  were  stili  many 
traces  of  her  grief  and  sufferings  in  her  face,  there  was  like- 
wise the  promise  that  she  needed  but  a very  short  term  of  good 
usage  from  life  to  bloom  into  as  sweet,  modest,  and  gentle  a 
maiden  as  a man^s  heart  could  wish  to  hold  to  itself. 

The  captain,  motioning  us  to  our  places,  took  his  seat  at 
the  head  of  the  table  with  a large  air  of  hospitality  in  his 
manner  of  drawing  out  his  whiskers  and  inflating  his  waist- 
coat. The  vessel  creaked  and  groaned  noisily  as  she  pitched 
and  rolled,  so  slanting  the  table  that,  but  for  the  rough,  well- 
used  fiddles,  every  article  upon  it  would  have  speedily  tumbled 
on  to  the  deck.  The  lamp  burned  brightly,  and  almost 
eclipsed  the  rusty  complexion  of  daylight  that  lay  upon  the 
glass  of  the.  little  skylight  directly  over  our  heads. 

Punmeamootty  waited  nimbly  upon  us,  though  my  immedi- 
ate impression  was  that  his  alacrity  was  not  a little  animated 
by  fear  and  dislike.  As  the  captain  sat  smilingly  recommend- 
ing the  ham  that  he  was  carving — dwelling  much  upon  it, 
and  talking  of  the  pig  as  an  animal  on  the  whole  more  service- 
able to  a man  than  the  cow — I caught  the  colored  steward 
watching  him  as  he  stood  some  little  distance  away  upon  the 
skipper’s  left,  with  his  dusky  shining  eyes  in  the  corner  of 
their  sockets.  It  reminded  me  of  the  look  1 had  observed  the 
fierce-looking  fellow  at  the  wheel  fasten  upon  the  captain.  It 
was  as  though  the  fellow  cursed  him  with  his  dusky  gaze. 
Yet  there  was  nothing  forbidding  in  his  face,  despite  his  ugli- 
ness. His  skin  was  of  the  color  of  the  yelk  of  an  egg,  and  he 
had  a coarse  heavy  nose,  which  made  me  suspect  a Dutch  hand 
in  the  man’s  creation.  His  hair  was  coal  black,  long,  and 
lank,  after  the  Chinese  pattern.  It  vyould  have  been  hard  to 
guess  his  age  from  such  a mask  of  a face  as  he  carried;  but 
the  few  bristles  on  his  u])pcr  lip  suggested  }^outh,  and  I dare 
say  I was  rigid  in  thinking  him  about  two-tinil-l  evenly. 

The  captain  talked  freely;  sometimes  he  omitted  his  nasal 


Mt  t)Ai^ISH  SW:EETHiiART. 


M 

twang;  but  his  conversation  was  threaded  with  pious  reflec- 
tions, and  1 took  notice  of  a tendency  in  the  man  to  sermonize, 
as  though  little  in  the  most  familiar  talk  could  occur  out  of 
which  a salutary  moral  was  not  to  be  squeezed.  He  seemed  to 
be  very  well  pleased  to  have  us  on  board,  not  perhaps  so  much 
because  our  company  was  a break  as  because  it  provided  him 
with  an  opportunity  to  philosophize,  and  to  air  his  sentiments. 
I shall  not  be  thought  very  grateful  for  thus  speaking  of  a 
man  who  had  rescued  us  from  a trying  and  distressful  situa- 
tion, and  who  was  entertaining  us  kindly,  and,  1 may  say, 
bountifully;  but  my  desire  is  to  give  you  the  truth — to  de- 
scribe exactly  as  best  I can  what  I saw  and  suffered  in  this 
strange  passage  of  my  life,  and  the  portrait  I am  attempting 
of  Captain  Joppa  Bunting  is  as  the  eyes  of  my  head,  and  of 
my  mind  too,  beheld  him. 

As  I looked  at  him  sitting  at  the  table,  of  a veal-like  com- 
plexion in  that  light,  blandly  gesticulating  with  his  fat  hands, 
expressing  himself  with  a nasal  gravity  that  was  at  times 
diverting  with  the  smile  that  accompanied  it,  it  seemed  difficult 
to  believe  that  he  was  a merchant  captain,  the  master  of  as 
commonplace  an  old  ocean  wagon  as  ever  crushed  a sea  with 
a round  bow.  1 asked  him  how  long  he  had  followed  the  life, 
and  he  astonished  me  by  answering  that  he  was  now  forty-four, 
and  that  he  had  been  apprenticed  to  the  sea  at  the  age  of 
twelve. 

“You  will  have  seen  a very  great  deal  in  that  time,  cap- 
tain?^’ said  1. 

“ I believe  there  is  no  wonder  of  the  Lord  visible  upon  the 
face  of  the  deep  which  I have  not  viewed,  he  responded. 
“ There  is  no  part  of  the  world  which  I have  not  visited.  I 
have  coasted  the  Antarctic  zone  of  ice  in  a whaler,  and  1 have 
been  becalmed  for  seventeen  weeks  right  off,  with  thirty  miles 
of  motion  only  in  those  seventeen  weeks,  upon  the  parallel  of 
one  degree  north. 

On  this  I observed  that  Helga  eyed  him  with  interest,  yet  I 
seemed  to  be  sensible,  too,  of  an  expression  of  recoil  in  her 
face,  if  I may  thus  express  what  I do  not  know  how  better  to 
define. 

“ You  have  worn  wonderfully  well,^^  said  I. 

“ I have  taken  care  of  myself,^^  he  answered,  smiling. 

“ Is  this  your  ship,  sir?’^ 

“ 1 have  a large  interest  in  her/^  he  replied.  “ 1 am  very 
well  content  to  follow  the  sea.  The  sense  of  being  watched 
over  is  comforting,  and  often  exhilarating;  but  I wish,’^  he 
exclaimed,  with  a solemn  wagging  of  his  head,  “ that  the 


182 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


obligation  to  make  money  in  this  life  was  less,  much  less,  than 
it 

“It  is  the  only  life  in  which  we  shall  require  money, said 
Helga. 

“ True,  madame,^^  said  he,  with  an  apparently  careless  but 
puzzling  glance  at  her;  “ but  let  me  tell  you  that  the  obliga- 
tion of  money-making  soils  the  soul.  I am  not  surprised  that 
the  godliest  of  the  good  men  of  old  took  up  their  abode  in 
caves,  were  satisfied  with  roots  for  dinner,  and  were  as  happy 
in  a sheep^s-skin  as  a dandy  in  a costume  by  Poole.  1 
defy  a man  to  practice  virtue  and  make  money  too.  Pun- 
meamootty,  put  some  wine  into  the  lady’s  glass. 

Helga  declined.  The  Malay  was  moving  swiftly  to  execute 
the  order,  but  stopped  dead  on  her  saying  no,  and  with  in- 
sensible and  mouse-like  movements  regained  his  former  post, 
where  he  stood  watching  the  captain  as  before. 

“ Yes,^^  said  I,  “ this  world  would  be  a pleasant  one  if  we 
could  manage  without  money. 

“ For  myself,^’  said  he,  casting  his  eyes  over  the  table,  “ 1 
could  do  very  well  with  a crust  of  bread  and  a glass  of  water; 
but  I have  a daughter,  Judith  Kuby,  and  I have  to  work  for 
her.” 

This  brought  a little  expression  of  sympathy  into  Helga^s 
face. 

“ Is  she  your  only  daughter.  Captain  Bunting?”  she  asked. 

“ My  only  daughter,”  he  answered,  with  a momentary  soft- 
ening of  his  voice,  “ I wish  I had  her  here!”  said  he.  “ You 
would  find  her.  Miss  Nielsen,  a good,  kind,  religious  girl. 
She  is  lonely  in  her  home  when  I am  away.  I am  a widower. 
My  dear  wife  fell  asleep  six  years  ago.” 

He  sighed,  but  he  was  smiling  too  as  he  did  so. 

The  windows  of  the  skylight  had  now  turned  into  gleaming 
ebony  against  the  darkness  of  the  evening  outside,  and  re- 
flected the  white  table-cloth  and  the  sparkling  glass  and  our 
figures  as  though  it  were  a black  polished  mirror  over  our 
heads.  I had.  taken  notice  of  a sharper  inclination  in  the  heel 
of  the  bark  when  she  rolled  to  leeward,  and,  though  1 was  no 
sailor,  yet  my  ears,  actnistomed  to  the  noises  of  the  coast,  had 
caught  a keener  edge  in  the  hum  of  the  wind  outside,  a more 
fretful  hissing  in  the  stroke  pf  every  sea  smiting  the  bends. 
An  order  was  delivered  from  the  deck  above  us,  and,  shortly 
afterward,  a singular  sound  of  howling  arose,  accompanied 
with  the  slatting  and  flitiq>iiig  of  ; an^/as. 

“ Mr.  Jones  is  taking  the  mainsail  oil  her,”  said  the  captain. 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


183 


“ but  the  glass  is  very  steady.  We  shall  have  a fine  night,^ 
he  added,  smiling  at  Helga. 

“ Is  that  strange  wailing  noise  made  by  the  crew?^^  she 
asked. 

“ It  is,  madame.  The  Malays  are  scarcely  to  be  called 
nightingales.  They  are  pulling  at  the  ropes,  and  they  sing  as 
they  pull.  It  is  a habit  among  sailors— but  you  do  not  re- 
quire me  to  tell  you  that.'^^ 

“ I believe  there  is  very  little  in  seamanship.  Captain  Bunt- 
ing,^'’ said  I,  that  even  you,  with  your  long  experience, 
could  teach  Miss  Nielsen. 

She  looked  somewhat  wistfully  at  me,  as  though  she  would 
discourage  any  references  to  her. 

“Indeed!’"  he  exclaimed.  “I  should  like  to  hear  your 
nautical  accomplishments.’" 

“ It  was  my  humor  to  assist  mv  father  when  at  sea,”  she 
said,  with  her  eyes  fixed  on  the  table. 

“ Now,  what  can  you  do?”  said  he,  watching  her.  “ Pray 
tell  me?  A knowledge  of  the  sea  among  your  sex  is  so  rare 
that  a sailor  could  never  value  it  too  greatly  in  a lady.” 

“ Let  me  answer  for  Miss  Nielsen,  captain,”  1 exclaimed, 
carelessly,  with  a glance  at  the  Malay  steward,  whose  gaze, 
like  the  captain’s,  was  also  directed  at  Helga.  “ She  can  put 
a ship  about,  she  can  steer,  she  can  loose  a jib,  and  run  aloft 
as  nimbly  as  the  smartest  sailor;  she  can  stand  a watch  and 
work  a ship  in  it,  and  she  can  take  sights  and  give  you  a ves- 
sel’s place  on  the  chart — within  a mile  shall  1 say,  Helga?” 

He  looked  at  me  an  my  pronouncing  the  word  Helga.  Ido 
not  know  that  I had  before  called  the  girl  thus  familiarly  in 
his  presence. 

“ You  are  joking,  Mr.  Tregarthen!”  said  he. 

A little  smile  of  appeal  to  me  parted  Helga’s  lips. 

“ No,  no,”  said  1,  “ I am  not  joking,  it  is  all  true.  She 
is  the  most  heroic  of  girls,  besides.  We  owe  our  preserva- 
tion to  her  courage  and  knowledge.  Helga,  may  God  bless 
you,  and  grant  us  a safe  and  speedy  return  to  a home,  where, 
if  the  dear  heart  in  it  is  still  beating,  we  shall  meet  with  a 
sweet  welcome,  be  sure.” 

“But  you  must  not  be.  in  a hurry  to  return  home,”  ex- 
claimed the  captain,  turning  his  smiling  countenance  to  Helga; 
“ you  must  give  me  time  to  tempt  you  to  remain  on  board 
‘ The  Light  of  the  World."  Your  qualifications  as  a sailor 
should  make  you  an  excellent  mate,  and  you  will  tell  me  how 
much  a month  you  will  take  to  serve  in  that  capacity?” 

1 observed  the  same  look  of  recoil  in  her  face  that  I had 


184 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


before  seen  in  it.  A woman^s  instincts,  thought  1,  are  often 
amazingly  keen  in  the  interpretation  of  men^s  minds.  Or  is 
she  merely  nervous  and  sensitive,  with  a gentle  pretty  modesty 
and  bashfulness  which  render  direct  allusions  to  her  after  this 
pattern  distressing?  For  my  part,  1 could  find  no  more  Uian 
what  the  French  call  badinage  in  the  captain^s  speech,  with 
nothing  to  render  it  significant  outside  the  bare  meaning  of 
the  words  in  his  looks  or  manner. 

She  did  not  answer  him,  and  by  way  of  changing  the  sub- 
ject, being  also  weary  of  sitting  at  the  table,  tor  we  had  fin- 
ished the  meal  some  time,  though  the  Malay  continued  to  look 
on,  as  though  waiting  for  the  order  to  clear  away,  1 pulled 
out  my  watch. 

“ A quarter  to  seven, 1 exclaimed.  “ You  will  not  wish 
to  be  late  to-night,  Helga.  You  require  a good  long  sleep. 
By  this  time  to-morrow  we  may  have  shitted  our  quarters; 
but'  we  shall  always  gratefully  remember  Captain  Bunting’s 
goodness.^’ 

“ That  reminds  me,”  said  he,  ‘‘  your  cabins  must  be  got 
ready.  Punmeamootty,  go  forward  and  tell  Nakier  to  send  a 
couple  of  hands  aft  to  clear  out  two  of  the  berths  below.  No! 
tell  Nakier  I want  him,  and  then  come  aft  and  clear  the 
table.” 

The  man,  gliding  softly,  but  moving  swiftly,  passed 
through  the  door  that  led  on  to  the  quarter-deck. 

‘‘  I wish  1 could  tempt  you.  Miss  Nielsen,”  continued  the 
captain,  to  take  Mr.  Jones’s  cabin.  You  will  be  so  very 
much  more  comfortable  there.” 

“ 1 would  rathere  be  near  Mr.  Tregarthen,  thank  you,”  she 
answered. 

“You  are  a fortunate  man  to  be  so  favored!”  he  ex- 
claimed, smiling  at  me.  “ However,  every  convenience  that 
my  cabin  can  supply  shall  be  placed  at  Miss  Nielsen’s  disposal. 
Alas!  now,  if  my  dear  Judith  were  here!  She  would  im- 
prove, by  many  womanly  suggestions,  my  humble  attempts  as 
a Samaritan.  Our  proper  business  in  this  world,  Mr.  Tre- 
garthen, is  to  do  good  to  one  another.  But  the  difficulty,”  he 
exclaimed  with  a sweep  of  his  hand,  “is  to  do  all  the  good 
that  can  be  done!  Now,  for  instance,  I am  at  a loss.  How 
am  1 to  supply  Miss  Nielsen’s  needs?” 

“ ''rhey  are  of  the  simplest — are  they  not,  Helga?”  said  I. 

“ Quite  the  simplest.  Captain  Bunting,”  she  answered,  and 
then,  looking  at  him  anxiously,  she  added:  “My  one  great 
desire  now  is  to  get  to  Fnglantl,  1 have  been  the  cause  of 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  185 

taking  Mr.  Tregarthen  from  his  mother,  and  I shall  not  feel 
happy  until  they  are  together  again 

“ Charity  forbid, exclaimed  the  captain,  “ that  I should 
question  for  an  instant  the  heroism  of  Mr.  Tregarthen ’s  be- 
havior! But,^^  said  he,  slightly  lowering  his  voice  and  stoop- 
ing his  smiling  face  at  her,  so  to  say,  “ when  your  brave  friend 
put  ofE  in  the  life-boat  he  did  not,  I may  take  it,  know  that 
you  were  on  board 

“ But  I was  on  board,^^  she  answered,  quiokiy;  and  he 
has  saved  my  life,  and  I wish  him  to  return  to  his  mother,  who 
may  believe  him  drowned,  and  be  mourning  him  as  dead!^^ 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ON  BOARD  ‘‘the  LIGHT  OF  THE  WORLD. 

At  that  moment  the  man  whom  the  captain  styled  Nakier 
entered  the  little  cuddy,  followed  by  the  steward.  He  made 
a singular  gesture,  a sort  of  salaam,  bowing  his  head  and  whip- 
ping both  hands  to  his  brow,  but  with  something  of  defiance 
in  the  celerity  of  the  gesture.  He  was  the  man  whom  I had 
seen  haranguing  the  two  boatmen.  He  had  a large,  fine  in- 
telligent eye,  liquid  and  luminous,  despite  the  Asiatic  duski- 
ness of  its  pupil;  his  features  were  regular  and  almost  hand- 
some: an  aquiline  nose,  thin  and  well  chiseled  at  the  nostrils, 
a square  brow,  small  ears  decorated  with  thick  gold  hoops, 
and  teeth  as  though  formed  of  china.  The  expression  of  his 
face  was  mild  and  even  prepossessing,  his  complexion  a light 
yellow.  He  bore  in  his  hand  what  had  apparently  been  a 
soldier’s  foraging  cap,  and  was  dressed  in  an  old  pilot  jacket, 
a red  shirt,  and  a pair  of  canvas  breeches  held  by  a belt,  to 
which  was  attached  a sheath  containing  a knife  lying  tight 
against  his  hip.  He  took  me  and  Helga  in  with  a rapid  roll 
of  his  handsome  eyes,  then  looked  straight  at  the  captain  in  a 
posture  of  attention,  with  a little  contraction  of  the  brow. 

“ I want  a couple  of  the  berths  below  cleared  out  at  once,” 
said  the  captain.  “ Goh  Syn  Koh  seems  one  of  the  smartest 
among  you.  Send  him.  Also  send  Mow  Lauree.  He  can 
make  a bed,  1 hope?  He  is  making  a bed  for  himself!  Bear 
a hand  and  clear  this  table,  Punmeamootty,  so  as  to  be  able  to 
assist.  You’ll  superintend  the  work,  Nakier.  See  all  clean 
and  comfortable.  ” 

“ Ya-as,  sah,”  said  the  man. 

He  was  going. 

“ Stop!”  exclaimed  the  captain,  smiling  all  the  time  he  con- 
tinued to  talk.  “ Did  you  eat  your  dinner  to-day?” 


186 


MT  DANISH  SWEKTHEAET. 


“No  sah.’^  ’ 

“ Whafc  has  become  of  it?^^ 

“ Overboard,  sah/"  answered  the  man,  preserving  his  slight 
frown. 

“ Overboard!  As  good  a mess  of  pork  and  pea-soup  as  wai 
ever  served  out  to  a ship^s  company.  Overboard  I That  m 
the  third  time.  If  it  happens  again  — he  checked  himself 
with  a glance  at  HeIga-—“  if  it  happens  again/^  he  went  on, 
speaking  with  an  air  of  concern,  “ 1 shall  be  obliged  to  stop 
the  beef.^^ 

“ We  can  not  eat  pork,  sah — we  are  Mussulmen — ” he  was 
proceeding. 

The  captain  silenced  him  with  a bland  motion  of  the  hand. 

“ Send  the  men  aft,  Nakier,^^  said  he,  with  a small  increase 
of  nasal  twang  in  his  utterance,  “and  see  that  the  cleaning 
and  the  clearance  out  is  thorough.'’^ 

He  gave  him  a hard,  significant  nod,  and  the  man  marched 
out,  directing  an  eager  look  at  me  as  he  wheeled  round,  as 
though  for  my  sympathy. 

Punmeamootty  was  clearing  the  table  with  much  ill-dis- 
sembled agitation  in  the  hurry  of  his  movements:  his  swift 
glances  went  from  the  captain  to  me,  and  then  to  Helga, 
They  were  like  the  flashing  of  a stiletto,  keen  as  the  darting 
blue  gleam  of  the  blade,  and  they  would  be  as  murderous,  too, 
I thought,  if  the  man  could  execute  his  wishes  with  his  eyes. 
I believed  the  captain  would  now  make  some  signal  to  leave  the 
table,  but  he  continued  to  sit  on. 

“ Did  you  observe  that  man  just  now?’^  said  he,  addressing 
Helga.  She  answered  “ Yes.^^  “ Handsome,  do  you  think.^^^ 
said  he,  combing  a whisker. 

“ He  had  a mild,  pleasant  face,^^  she  answered. 

“ His  name,^^  said  he,  “ is  Vanjoor  Nakier.  He  is  boss  of 
the  native  crew,  and  I allow  him  to  act  as  a sort  of  boatswain. 
It  is  hard  to  reconcile  so  agreeable  a countenance  with  the 
horrible  and  awful  belief  which  must  make  him  forever  and 
ever  a lost  soul,  if  he  is  not  won  over  in  plenty  of  time  for  re- 
pentance, for  prayer  and  mortification.^^ 

“ You  seem  to  have  the  fellows^  names  very  pat,^^  said  1. 
“ Are  you  acquainted  with  the  Malay  tongue?’^ 

“ Ah!’’  cried  he,  with  a shako  of  the  head;  “ I wish  1 were. 
I might  tlien  prove  a true  missionary  to  the  poor  benighted 
fellows.  Yet  I shall  hope  to  have  broken  heavily  into  their 
deplorable  and  degraded  superstitiojis  before  I dismiss  them  at 
Cape  Town.  ” 

I caught  sight  of  the  shadowy  form  of  the  steward  lurking 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  187 

abaft  the  companion  steps,  where  he  seemed  busy  with  some 
plates  and  a basket. 

“ It  is  your  hope/^  said  1^  “ to  convert  the  Mussulmen?” 

“ It  is  my  hope,  indeed/^  he  answered;  ‘‘  and  pray,  what 
honester  hope  should  possess  a man?^^ 

“ It  is  an  admirable  desire,^^  said  1,  “ but  a little  dangerous 
perhaps. 

“ Why?^^  asked  he. 

“ Weil/^  said  1,  “ I am  no  traveler.  1 have  seen  nothing 
of  the  world,  but  I have  read,  and  I have  always  gathered  from 
books  of  voyages,  that  there  is  no  class  of  men  more  bigoted 
in  their  faith  and  more  treacherous  in  their  conduct  than 
Malay  seamen. 

“Hush!"^  cried  Helga,  putting  her  finger  to  her  lips  and 
looking  in  the  direction  of  the  steward. 

The  captain  turned  in  his  chair. . 

“ Are  you  there,  Punmeaniootty?''’ 

“ Yes,  sah,^^  and  his  figure  came  swiftly  gliding  into  the 
light. 

“ Go  below  and  help  the  others!  They  should  be  at  work 
by  this  time.^^ 

The  man  went  out  on  to  the  quarter-deck,  where,  close 
against  the  cuddy-front,  lay  the  little  hatch  that  conducted  to 
the  steerage. 

You  are  quite  right,’^  exclaimed  the  captain,  lying  back 
and  expanding  his  waistcoat.  “ Malay  seamen  are,  undoubt- 
edly, treacherous.  In  fact,  treachery  is  part  and  parcel  of  the 
Malay  character.  It  is  the  people  of  that  nation  who  run 
a-muck,  you  know. 

“ What  is  that?^^  inquired  Helga. 

“ A fellow  falls  crazy,^^  answered  the  captain,  smiliug, 
“ whips  out  a weapon  called  a creese,  and  stabs  and  kills  as 
many  as  he  can  encounter  as  he  flies  throngli  t he  streets. 

“ They  are  a people  to  live  on  good  terms  with,^'’  said  Helga, 
looking  at  me. 

“ They  are  a people,^^  said  the  captain,  nasally  accentuating 
his  words,  “ who  are  to  be  brought  to  a knowledge  of  the 
Light;  and,  in  proportion  as  the  effort  is  dangerous,  so  should 
the  worker  glory  in  his  task. 

He  gazed  at  Helga,  as  though  seeking  her  approval  of  this 
sentiment.  But  she  was  looking  at  me  with  an  expression  of 
anxiety  in  her  soft  blue  eyes. 

I gather,^^  said  I,  widi  curiosity  stimulated  by  thought  of 
the  girPs  and  my  situation  aboard  tins  homely  little  bark, 
with  her  singular  skipper  and  wild,  dark  crew — “ I gather. 


188 


MY  DAKiSH  sweetheart. 


Captain  Bunting,  from  what  has  passed,  that  the  blow  you  ar6 
now  leveling  at  these  fellows’  superstitions — as  you  call  them 
— is  aimed  at  their  diet?” 

'‘Just  so,”  he  answered.  “lam  trying  to  compel  them  to 
eat  pork.  Who  knows  that  before  the  equator  be  crossed  I 
may  not  have  excited  a real  love  for  pork  among  them?  That 
would  be  a great  work,  sir.  It  will  sap  one  of  the  most  con- 
temptible of  their  superstitions,  and  provide  me  with  a little 
crevice  for  the  insertion  of  the  wedge  of  truth.” 

“1  believe  pork,”  said  I,  “is  not  so  much  a question  of 
religion  as  a question  of  health  with  these  poor  dark  creatures 
bred  in  hot  latitudes.  ” 

“ Pork  enters  largely  into  their  fakh,”  he  answered. 

“ So  far,  you  have  not  been  very  successful,  I think?” 

“ No.  You  heard  what  Vanjoor  Nakier  said.  The  waste- 
ful wretches  have  for  the  third  time  cast  their  allowance  over- 
board. Only  think.  Miss  Nielsen,  of  willfully  throwing  over 
the  rail  as  much  hearty  excellent  food — honest  salt  pork  and 
very  fair  pea-soup — as  would  keep  a poor  family  at  home  in 
dinners  for  a week!” 

“ What  do  they  eat  instead?”  she  asked. 

“ Why,  on  pork  days,  biscuit,  1 suppose.  There  is  nothing 
else.” 

“ You  give  them  beef  every  other  day?”  said  1. 

“Beef  and  duff,”  he  answered;  “ but  I shall  stop  that 
Famine  may  help  me  in  dealing  with  their  superstitions.” 

It  was  not  for  me,  partaking,  as  Helga  and  1 were,  of  this 
man’s  hospitality,  using  his  ship,  dependent  upon  him  indeed 
for  my  speedy  return  home  with  Hegla — it  was  not  for  me,  I 
say,  at  this  early  time  at  all  events,  to  remonstrate  with  him, 
to  tell  him  that,  exalted  as  he  might  consider  his  motives,  they 
were  urging  him  into  a very  barbarous,  cruel  behavior;  but, 
as  I sat  looking  at  him,  my  emotion,  spite  of  his  claims  upon 
my  kindness,  was  one  of  hearty  disgust,  with  deeper  feelings 
working  in  me  besides,  when  I considered  that,  if  our  evil  fort- 
une forced  us  to  remain  for  any  length  of  time  on  board 
“ The  Light  of  the  World,”  we  might  find  his  theory  of  con- 
version making  his  ship  a theater  for  as  bad  a tragedy  as  was 
ever  enacted  upon  the  high  seas. 

On  a sudden  he  looked  up  at  a little  time-piece  that  was 
ticking  against  a beam  just  over  his  head. 

“ llave  you  any  acquaintance  with  the  sea,  Mr.  Tre- 
gartlien?”  he  asked. 

“ Merely  a boating  acquaintance,”  1 replied. 

“ Could  you  stand  a watcLr” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


189 


I could  keep  a lookout/^  said  I,  a little  dismayed  by  these 
questions,  “ but  1 am  utterly  ignorant  of  the  handling  of  a 
ship.^^ 

He  looked  reflectively  at  Helga,  then  at  me,  pulling  down 
first  one  whisker,  then  the  other,  while  his  thick  lips  lay  broad 
in  a smile  under  his  long-hooked  nose. 

“ Oh,  well,^^  said  he,  Abraham  Wise  will  do.^^  He  wont 
to  the  cuddy  door  and  called,  “ Forward  there 

“ Ya-as,  sah,^^  came  a thick  African-like  note  out  of  the 
forecastle  obscurity. 

“ Ask  Abraham  Wise  to  step  aft.^’ 

He  resumed  his  seat,  and  in  a few  minutes  Abraham  arrived. 

Helga  instantly  rose  and  gave  him  her  hand  with  a sweet 
cordial  smile  that  was  full  of  her  gratification  at  the  sight  of 
him.  For  my  part,  it  did  my  heart  good  to  see  him.  After 
the  tallowy  countenance  and  odd  talk  of  the  captain  and  the 
primrose  complexions  and  scowling  glances  of  his  Malays,  there 
was  real  refreshment  to  the  spirits  to  be  got  out  of  the  homely 
English  face  and  English  longshore  garb  of  the  boatman,  with 
the  man^s  suggestions,  besides,  of  the  English  Channel  and  of 
home. 

“ And  how  is  Jacob said  I. 

“ Oh,  he's  a-feeling  a little  better,  sir.  A good  bit  down, 
of  course,  as  we  both  are.  'Tain't  realizable  even  now." 

“ Do  you  refer  to  the  loss  of  your  lugger?"  said  Captain 
Bunting. 

“ Ay,  sir,  to  the  ‘ Airly  Marn,'  " answered  Abraham,  con- 
fronting him,  and  gazing  at  him  with  a steadfastness  that 
slightly  increased  his  squint. 

“ But  surely,  my  good  fellow,"  cried  the  captain,  “ you  had 
plenty  of  time,  1 hope,  to  feel  thoroughly  grateful  for  your 

?reservatiorx  from  the  dreadful  fate  which  lay  before  you  had 
rovidence  suffered  you  to  continue  your  voyage.^" 

“ I dunno  about  dreadful  fate,"  answered  Abraham:  “ all 
I can  say  is  I should  be  blooming  glad  if  that  there  ‘ Airly 
Mam  ' was  afloat  again,  or  if  so  be  as  we'd  never  fallen  in  with 
this  here  ‘ Light  of  the  World.'  " 

“ It  is  as  I told  you,  you  perceive,"  exclaimed  the  captain, 
smiling  and  addressing  Helga  and  me  in  his  blandest  manner: 
“ as  we  descend  the  social  scale,  recognition  of  signal  and  prov- 
idential mercies  grows  feebler  and  feebler,  until  it  dies  out — 
possibly  before  it  gets  down  to  Deal  boatmen.  I want  a word 
with  you,  Abraham  Wise.  But  first,  how  have  you  been 
treated  forward?" 

Qh,  v/erry  well  indeed,  sir,"  he  answered.  “The  mate 


190 


MY  DANISH  SWEETUEAKT. 


showed  US  where  to  tarn  in  when  the  time  comes  round,  and  I 
dessay  we’ll  manage  to  git  along  ail  right  till  we  gets  clear 
of  ye.” 

“ What  have  you  had  to  eat?^^ 

“ The  mate  gave  us  a little  bit  o^  pork  for  to  be  biled,  but 
ye\e,got  a black  cook  forrads  as  seemed  to  Jacob  and  me  to 
take  the  dressing  of  that  there  meat  werry  ill.’^ 

The  captain  seemed  to  motion  the  matter  aside  with  his 
hand,  and  said: 

“ My  vessel  is  without  a second  mate;  I mean,  a man  qual- 
ified to  take  charge  of  the  deck  when  Mr.  Jones  and  I are  be« 
low.  Now,  1 am  thinking  that  you  would  do  very  well  for 
that  post. 

“ I"d  rather  go  home,  sir,’^  said  Abraham. 

‘‘  Ay,^^  said  the  captain,  complacently  surveying  him,  but 
while  you  are  with  me,  you  know,  you  must  be  prepared  to  do 
your  bit.  I find  happiness  assisting  a suffering  man.  But/’ 
added  he,  nasally,  “in  this  world  we  must  give  and  take. 
You  eat  my  meat  and  sleep  in  what  I think  I may  fairly  term 
my  bedroom.  ' What  pay  do  I exact?  Simply  the  use  of  your 
eyes  and  limbs.’’ 

He  glanced  with  a very  self-satisfied  expression  at  Helga. 
It  seemed,  indeed,  that  most  of  his  talk  now  was  at  her  when 
not  directly  to  her.  She  had  come  round  to  my  side  of  the 
table  after  leaving  Abraham,  and  I had.  given  her  my  chair 
and  stood  listening  with  my  hand  on  the  back  of  it. 

“ I’m  quite  willing  to  tarn  to,”  said  Abraham,  “ while  I’m 
along  with  ye,  sir.  I ain’t  af eared  of  work.  I don’t  want  no 
man’s  grub  nor  shelter  for  nothen.” 

“Quite  right,”  said  the  captain,  “those  are  respectable 
sentiments.  Of  course,  if  you  accepted  my  offer  I should  pay 
you,  give  you  the  wages  that  Winstanley  had — four  pounds  a 
month  for  the  round  voyage.” 

Abraham  scratched  the  back  of  his  head  and  looked  at  me. 
This  proposal  evidently  put  a new  complexion  upon  the  mat- 
ter to  his  mind. 

“ You  can  handle  a ship,  I presume?”  continued  the  cap- 
tain. 

“ Whoy,  yes,”  answered  Abraham,  with  a grin  of  wonder 
at  the  question;  “if  1 ain’t  been  piloting  long  enough  to 
know  that  sort  o’  work,  ye  shall  call  me  a Malay.” 

“ 1 should  not  require  a knowledge  of  navigation  in  you,” 
said  the  captain. 

Abraham  responded  with  a bob  of  the  head,  then  scratching 
at  his  back  hair  afresh,  said: 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  191 

I must  ask  leave  to  tarn  the  matter  over.  I should  like 
to  talk  with  my  mate  along  o^  this.^^ 

“ 1^11  put  him  on  the  articles,  too,  if  he  likes,  at  the  current 
wages, said  the  captain.  “However,  think  over  it.  You 
can  let  me  know  to-morrow.  But  1 shall  expect  you  to  take 
charge  during  the  middle  watch. 

“ That  I’ll  willingly  dew,  sir,^^  answered  Abraham.  “ But 
how  about  them  Ceylon  chaps  and  Malays  forrads?  Dew  they 
understand  sea  tarms?^^ 

“ Perfectly  well,^^  answered  the  captain,  “ or  how  should  1 
and  Mr.  Jones  get  along,  think  you?^^ 

“ Well,^^  exclaimed  Abraham;  “ I han’t  had  much  to  say 
to  ^em  as  yet.  One  chap’s  been  talking  a good  deal  this  even- 
ing, and  I allow  he’s  got  a grievance,  as  most  sailors  has. 
There’s  some  sort  o’  difficulty:  I allow  it  lies  in  the  eating; 
but  a man  wants  practice  to  follow  noicely  what  them  there 
sort  o’  colored  covies  has  to  say.” 

“ Well,”  exclaimed  the  captain,  with  another  bland  wave 
of  the  hand  in  dismissal  of  the  subject,  “ we  understand  each 
other,  at  all  events,  my  lad.” 

He  went  to  the  locker  from  which  he  had  extracted  the  bis- 
cuits, produced  a bottle  of  rum,  and  filled  a wine-glass. 

“ Neat  or  with  water?”  said  he,  smiling. 

“ I’ve  pretty  nigh  had  enough  water  for  to-day,  sir,”  an- 
swered Abraham,  grinning  too,  and  looking  very  well  pleased 
at  this  act  of  attention.  “ Here’s  to  you,  sir,  I’m  sure,  and 
wishing  you  a prosperous  woyage.  Mr.  Tregarthen,  your 
health,  sir,  and  your’n,  miss,  and  may  ye  both  soon  get  home 
and  find  everything  comfortable  and  roight.”  He  drained  the 
glass  with  a smack  of  his  lips.  “ As  pretty  a little  drop  o’ 
rum  as  I’ve  had  this  many  a day,”  said  he. 

“ You  can  tell  Jacob  to  lay  aft  presently,”  said  the  cantain, 
“ when  the  steward  is  at  liberty,  and  he  will  give  him  such 
another  dose.  That  will  do.” 

Abraham  knuckled  his  forehead,  pausing  to  say  to  me  in  a 
hoarse  whisper,  which  must  have  been  perfectly  audible  to  the 
captain,  “ A iioice  gemman,  and  no  mistake.” 

“ I am  going  below,”  said  the  captain  when  he  was  gone, 
“ to  see  alter  your  accommodation.  Will  you  sit  here,”  ad- 
dressing Helga,  “ or  will  you  go  on  deck  for  a few  turns?  I 
tear  you  will  find  the  air  chilly.” 

“ I will  go  on  deck  mih  you,  Hugh,”  answered  Helga. 

The  captain  ran  his  eye  over  her. 

“ You  are  without  luggage,”  said  he,  “ and,  alas!  wanting 
in  almost  everything;  but  if  you  will  allow  me — ” he  broke 


192 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


oS  and  went  to  his  cabin,  and  before  we  could  have  found  time 
to  exchange  a whisper,  returned  with  a very  handsome,  almost 
new,  fur  coat. 

‘‘Now,  Miss  Nielsen, said  he,  “you  will  suffer  me  to 
wrap  you  in  this. 

“Indeed  my  jacket  will  keep  me  warm,’’ she  answered, 
with  that  same  look  of  shrinking  in  her  face  1 have  before  de- 
scribed. 

“ Nay,  but  wear  it,  Helga,”  said  1,  anxious  to  meet  the 
man,  at  all  events,  half-way  in  his  kindness.  “ It  is  a delight- 
ful coat — the  very  thing  for  the  keen  wind  that  is  blowing  on 
deck!” 

Had  I offered  to  put  it  on  for  her  she  would  at  once  have 
consented,  but  I could  observe  the  recoil  in  her  from  the 
garment  stretched  in  the  captain’s  hands,  with  his  pale  fat  face 
smiling  betwixt  his  long  whiskers  over  the  top  of  it.  On  a 
sudden,  however,  she  turned  and  suffered  him  to  put  the  coat 
on  her,  which  he  did  with  great  ostentation  of  anxiety  and  a 
vast  deal  of  smiling,  and,  as  I could  not  help  perceiving,  with 
a deal  more  of  lingering  over  the  act  than  there  was  the  least 
occasion  for. 

“Wonderfully  becoming,  indeed!”  he  exclaimed;  “and 
now  to  see  that  your  cabin  is  comfortable.” 

He  passed  through  the  door,  and  we  mounted  the  compan- 
ion steps. 

The  night  was  so  dark  that  there  was  very  little  to  be  seen 
of  the  vessel.  Her  dim  spaces  of  canvas  made  a mere  pale 
whistling  shadow  of  her  as  they  floated,  waving  and  bowing, 
in  dim  heaps  through  the  obscurity.  There  was  a frequent 
glancing  of  white  water  to  windward  and  a dampness  as  of 
spray  in  the  wind,  but  the  little  bark  tossed  with  dry  decks 
over  the  brisk  Atlantic  heave,  crushing  the  water  off  either 
jbowintoa  dull  light  of  seething,  against  which,  when  she 
I stooped  her  head,  the  round  of  the  forecastle  showed  like  a 
'segment  of  the  shadow  in  an  eclipse  of  the  moon.  The  haze 
of  the  cabin  lamp  lay  about  the  skylight,  and  the  figure  of  the 
mate  appeared  in  and  vanished  past  it  with  monotonous  regu- 
larity as  he  pased  the  short  poop.  There  was  a haze  of  light, 
too,  about  the  binnacle-stand,  with  a sort  of  elusive  stealing 
into  it  of  the  outline  of  the  man  at  the  helm.  Forward  the 
vessel  lay  in  blackness.  It  was  blowing  what  sailors  call  a top- 
gallant breeze,  with,  perhaps,  more  weight  in  it  even  than 
that;  but  the  squabness  of  this  “Light  of  the  World” 
promised  great  stiffness,  and,  though  the  wind  had  drawn 


MT  DAi^ISH  SWEETHEART. 


193 


some  point  or  so  forward  while  we  were  at  table^  the  bark  rose 
as  stiff  to  it  as  though  she  had  been  under  reefed  topsails. 

“ Will  you  take  my  arm,  Helga?^^  said  1. 

“ Let  me  first  turn  up  the  sleeves  of  this  coat,*’^  said  she. 

1 helped  her  to  do  this;  she  then  put  her  hand  under  my 
arm,  and  we  started  to  walk  the  lee-side  of  the  deck  as  briskly 
as  the  swing  of  the  planks  would  suffer.  Scarcely  were  we  in 
motion  when  the  mate  came  down  to  us  from  the  weather- 
side. 

‘‘  Beg  pardon/^  said  he.  “ Won^t  you  and  the  lady  walk 
to  windward 

“ Oh,  v/e  shall  be  in  your  way!'^  I answered.  “ It  is  a cold 
wind.^^ 

“It  is,  sir.^^ 

“ But  it  promises  a fair  night/^  said  L 

“ I hope  so,^^  he  exclaimed.  “ Dirty  weather  donH  agree 
with  dirty  skins. 

He  turned  on  his  heel  and  resumed  his  post  on  the  weather- 
side  of  the  deck. 

“ Dirty  skins  mean  Malays  in  that  chief  mate’s  nautical  dic- 
tionary,” said  1. 

“ Hugh!  how  thankful  I shall  be  when  we  are  transferred 
to  another  ship!” 

“ Ay,  indeed!  but  surely  this  is  better  than  the  lugger?” 

“ No!  I would  rather  be  in  the  lugger.” 

“ How  now,  Helga?”  cried  I.  “ We  are  very  well  treated 
here.  Surely  the  captain  has  been  all  hospitality.  No  warm- 
hearted host  ashore  could  do  more.  Why,  here  is  lie  now  at 
this  moment  superintending  the  arrangement  of  our  cabins 
below  to  insure  our  comfort!” 

“ I do  not  like  him  at  all!”  said  she,  in  a tone  which  her 
slightly  Danish  accent  rendered  emphatic. 

“ 1 do  not  like  his  treatment  of  the  men,”  said  I,  “ but  he 
is  kind  to  us.” 

“ There  is  an  unwholesome  mind  in  his  flabby  face!”  she 
exclaimed. 

I could  not  forbear  a laugh  at  this  strong  language  in  the 
little  creature. 

“ And  then  his  religion!”  she  continued.  “Does  a trulv 
pious  nature  talk  as  he  does?  1 can  understand  professional 
religionists  intruding  their  calling  upon  strangers;  but  1 liave 
ahvays  found  sincerity  in  matters  of  opinion  modest  and  w.- 
5erved — 1 mean  among  what  you  call  laymen.  Wind  tigld 
has  this  man  to  force  upon  those  poor  fellows  forwa^-d  : i.e  fc ‘od 
that  they  are  forbidden  by  their  failii  to  eai?” 


194 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ Yes/^  said  I;  “ that  is  a vile  side  of  the  man^s  nature,  I 
must  own;  vile  to  you  and  me  and  to  the  poor  Malays,  I mean. 
But,  surely,  there  must  be  sincerity  too,  or  why  should  he 
bother  himself?’^ 

“It  may  be  meanness,^’ said  she:  “ he  wants  to  save  his 
beef;  meanness  and  that  love  of  tyrannizing  which  is  oftener 
to  be  found  among  the  captains  of  your  nation,  Hugh,  than 
mine!^^ 

“ Your  nation  said  I,  laughing.  “ 1 claim  you  for 
Great  Britain  by  virtue  of  your  English  speech.  No  pure 
Dane  could  talk  your  mother’s  tongue  as  you  do.  Spite  of 
what  you  say,  though,  I believe  the  man  sincere.  Would  he, 
situated  as  he  is — two  white  men  to  eleven  yellow-skins  (for 
we  and  the  boatmen  must  count  ourselves  out  of  it) — would 
he,  I say,  dare  venture  to  arouse  the  passions — the  religious 
passions — of  a set  of  men  who  hail  from  the  most  treacherous 
community  of  people  in  the  world,  if  he  were  not  governed  by 
some  dream  of  converting  them? — a fancy  that,  were  you  to 
transplant  it  ashore,  would  be  reckoned  noble  and  of  a script- 
ural and  martyr-like  greatness.” 

“That  may  be,”  she  answered;  “but  he  is  going  very 
wickedly  to  work,  nevertheless,  and  it  will  not  be  his  fault  if 
those  colored  sailors  do  not  dangerously  mutiny  long  before  he 
shall  have  persuaded  the  most  timid  and  doubting  of  them 
that  pork  is  good  to  eat.” 

“ Yes,”  said  I,  gravely;  for  she  spoke  with  a sort  of  impas- 
sioned seriousness  that  must  have  influenced  me,  even  if  I had 
not  been  of  her  mind.  “ I,  for  one,  should  certainly  fear  the 
worst  if  he  persists — and  I don’t  doubt  he  will  persist,  if  Abra- 
ham and  the  other  boatmen  agree  to  remain  with  him;  for 
then  it  will  be  four  to  eleven —desperate  odds,  indeed,  though, 
as  an  Englishman,  he  is  bound  to  underrate  the  formidable- 
ness of  anything  colored.  However,”  said  I,  with  a glance 
into  the  darkness  over  the  side,  “ do  not  doubt  that  we  shall 
be  transshiped  long  before  any  trouble  happens.  1 shall  en- 
deavor to  have  a talk  with  Abraham  before  he  decides.  What 
he  and  Jacob  then  do,  they  will  do  with  their  eyes  open.” 

As  1 spoke  these  words  the  captain  came  up  the  ladder  and 
approached  us. 

“ Ha!  Miss  Nielsen,”  he  cried,  “ were  not  you  wise  to  put 
on  that  warm  coat?  All  is  ready  below;  but  still  let  me  hope 
that  you  will  change  your  mind  and  occupy  Mr.  Jones’s 
berth.” 

“ Thank  you;  for  Uk)  short  tirno  we  shall  remain  in  this  ship 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAKT.  195 

the  cabin  you  have  been  good  enough  to  prepare  will  be  all  1 
shall  require/^  she  answered. 

He  peered  through  the  skylight  to  see  the  hour. 

“Five  minutes  to  eight/'^  he  exclaimed.  “Mr.  Jones!^^ 
The  man  crossed  the  deck.  “ 1 have  arranged/^  said  the  cap- 
tain, “ with  the  Deal  boatman  Abraham  Wise  to  take  charge 
of  the  bark  during  the  middle  watch.  It  is  an  experiment, 
and  1 shall  require  to  be  up  and  down  during  those  hours  to 
make  sure  of  him.  Not  that  I distrust  his  capacities.  Oh, 
dear,  no!  From  the  vicious  slipping  of  cables,  merely  -for 
sordid  purposes  of  hoveling,  to  the  noble  art  of  navigating  a 
ship  in  a hurricane  amid  the  shoals  of  the  Straits  of  Dover, 
your  Deal  boatman  is  the  most  expert  of  men.  But,^^  contin- 
ued he,  “ since  1 shall  have  to  be  up  and  down,  as  I have  said, 
during  the  middle  watch,  I will  ask  you  to  keep  charge  of  the 
deck  till  midnight. 

“ Very  good,  sir,^’  said  the  mate,  who  appeared  to  me  to 
have  been  on  duty  ever  since  the  hour  of  our  coming  aboard. 
“ It  will  keep  the  round  of  the  watches  steady,  sir.  The  port- 
watch  comes  on  duty  at  eight  bells. 

“ Excel  lent  exclaimed  the  captain.  “ Thank  you,  Mr. 
Jones. 

The  mate  stalked  aft. 

“ Mr.  Tregarthen,^^  he  added,  “ 1 observe  that  you  wear  a 
sou’-wester.^^ 

“ It  is  the  headgear  I wore  when  I put  off  in  the  life-boat, 
said  1,  “ and  1 am  waiting  to  get  home  to  exchange  it.^^ 

“No  need,  no  need!^^  cried  he;  “I  have  an  excellent  wide- 
awake below — not,  indeed,  perfectly  new,  but  a very  service- 
able clinging  article  for  ocean  use — which  is  entirely  at  your 
service. 

“ You  are  all  kindness!’^ 

“ Nay,^^  he  exclaimed  in  a voice  of  devotion,  “ I believe  1 
know  my  duty.  Shall  we  linger  here.  Miss  Nielsen,  or  would 
you  prefer  the  shelter  of  the  cabin?  At  half  past  eight  Pun- 
meamootty  will  place  some  hot  water,  biscuit,  and  a little 
spirit  upon  the  table.  I fear  I shall  beat  a loss  to  divert  you."^^ 

“ Indeed  not!^^  exclaimed  Helga. 

The  unconscious  irony  of  this  response  must  have  discon- 
certed a less  self-complacent  man. 

“ 1 have  a few  volumes  of  an  edifying  kind,  and  a draught- 
board. My  resources  for  amusing  you,  I fear,  are  limited  to 
those  things.'’^ 

The  sweep  of  the  wind  was  bleaker  than  either  of  us  had 
imagined,  and,  now  that  the  captain  had  joined  us,  the  deck 


196 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


possessed  no  temptation.  We  followed  him  into  the  cabin, 
where  Ilelga  hastily  removed  the  coat  as  though  fearing  the 
captain  would  help  her.  His  first  act  was  to  produce  the 
wideawake  he  had  spoken  of.  This  was  a very  great  conven- 
ience to  me;  the  sou^-wester  lay  hot  and  heavy  upon  my  head, 
and  the  sense  of  its  extreme  unsightliness  added  not  a little  to 
the  discomfort  it  caused  me.  He  looked  at  my  sea-boots  and 
then  at  his  feet,  and,  with  his  head  on  one  side,  exclaimed,  in 
his  most  smiling  manner,  that  he  feared  his  shoes  would  prove 
too  large  for  me,  but  that  I was  very  welcome  to  the  use  of  a 
pair  of  his  slippers.  These  also  I gratefully  accepted,  and 
withdrew  to  Mr.  Jones’s  berth  to  put  them  on,  and  the  com- 
fort of  being  thus  shod,  after  days  of  the  weight  and  unwield- 
iness of  my  sea-boots,  it  would  be  impossible  to  express. 

“ I think  we  shall  be  able  to  make  ourselves  happy  yet,” 
said  the  captain.  ‘‘  Pray  sit.  Miss  Nielsen.  Do  you  smoke, 
Mr.  Tregarthen?” 

“ I do,  indeed,”  1 answered,  “ whenever  I can  get  the 
chance.” 

He  looked  at  Helga,  who  said  to  me: 

“ Pray  smoke  here,  Hugh,  if  the  captain  does  not  object. 
My  father  seldom  had  a pipe  out  of  his  mouth,  and  1 was  con- 
stantly in  his  cabin  with  him.” 

“ You  are  truly  obliging,”  said  the  captain;  and  going  to 
the  locker  in  which  he  kept  his  rum,  biscuits,  and  the  like,  he 
took  out  a cigar-box,  and  handed  me  as  well-flavored  a Havana 
as  ever  1 had  smoked  in  my  life.  All  this  kindness  and  hos- 
pitality was,  indeed,  overwhelming,  and  I returned  some  very 
lively  thanks,  to  which  he  listened  with  a smile,  afterward,  as 
his  custom  was,  waving  them  aside  with  his  hand.  He  next 
entered  his  cabin  and  relumed  with  some  half  dozen  books, 
which  he  put  before  Helga.  I leaned  over  her  shoulder  to 
look  at  them,  and  speedily  recognized  “ The  Whole  Duty  of 
Man,”  “ The  Pilgrim’s  Progress,”  Young’s  “ Night 
Thoughts,”  a volume  by  Jeremy  Taylor,  and  the  rest  were  of 
this  sort  of  literature.  Helga  opened  a volume  and  seemed  to 
read  When  I turned  to  ask  the  captain  a question  about  these 
books,  1 found  him  staring  at  her  profile  out  of  the  corner  of 
his  eyes,  while  with  his  right  hand  he  stroked  his  whisker  med- 
itatively. 

“ These  are  all  very  good  books,”  said  I,  “ particularly  the 
‘ Pilgrim’s  Progress.’  ” 

“Yes,”  he  answered  with  a sigh;  “ works  of  that  kind  dur- 
ing my  long  periods  of  loneliness  upon  the  high  seas  are  my 
omy  solace,  and  lonely  1 am.  All  ship  captains  are  more  or 


MY  DAKISH  SWEJlTHEARf.  197 

less  alone  when  engaged  in  their  profession,  but  I am  pecul- 
iarly so.’^ 

“ I should  have  thought  the  Church,  captain,  would  have 
suited  you  better  than  the  sea,’^  said  1. 

“Not  the  Church,  he  answered.  “ I am  a Nonconform- 
ist, and  Dissent  is  stamped  upon  a long  pedigree.  Pray  light 
up,  Mr.  Tregarthen.^^ 

He  took  his  seat  at  the  head  of  the  table,  put  a match  to  his 
cigar,  the  sight  of  which  betwixt  his  thick  lips  considerably 
humanized  him  in  my  opinion,  and,  clasping  his  pale,  gouty- 
looking  hands  upon  the  table,  leaned  forward,  furtively  eying 
Helga  over  the  top  of  his  cigar,  which  forked  up  out  of  his 
mouth  like  the  bowsprit  of  a ship. 

His  conversation  chiefly  concerned  himself,  his  past  career, 
his  antecedents,  and  so  forth.  He  talked  as  one  who  wishes 
to  stand  well  with  his  hearers.  He  spoke  of  a Lady  Duckett 
as  a connection  of  his  on  his  mother^s  side,  and  I observed 
that  he  paused  on  pronouncing  the  name.  He  told  us  that  his 
mother  had  come  from  a very  ancient  family  that  had  been  for 
centuries  established  in  Cumberland,  but  he  was  reticent  on 
the  subject  of  his  father.  He  talked  much  of  his  daughter 
Judith^s  loneliness  at  home,  and  said  he  grieved  that  she  was 
without  a companion;  some  one  who  would  be  equally  dear  to 
them  both;  and  as  he  said  this  he  lay  back  in  his  chair  in  a 
very  amplitude  of  waistcoat,  with  his  eyes  flxed  on  the  upper 
deck  and  his  whole  posture  suggestive  of  pensive  thought. 

Well,  thought  1,  this,  to  be  sure,  is  a'very  strange  sort  of 
sea  captain.  I had  met  various  skippers  in  my  day,  but  none 
like  this  man.  Even  a trifling  expletive  would  have  been  re- 
freshing in  his  mouth.  From  time  to  time  Helga  glanced  at 
him,  but  with  an  air  of  aversion  that  was  not  to  be  concealed 
from  me,  however  self-complacency  might  blind  him  to  it. 
She  suddenly  exclaimed,  with  almost  startling  inconsequen- 
tiality: 

“ You  will  be  greatly  obliging  us.  Captain  Bunting,  by  giv- 
ing orders  to  Mr.  Jones  or  to  Abraham  to  keep  a lookout  for 
ships  sailing  north  during  the  night.  We  can  never  tell  what 
passing  vessel  might  not  be  willing  to  receive  Mr.  Tregarthen 
and  me.^^ 

“What!  In  the  darkness  of  night?^^  heexclaimed.  “How 
should  we  signal?  How  would  you  have  me  convey  my  desir< 
to  communicate?^^ 

“ By  a blue  light,  or  by  burning  a port-flre,^^  said  Helga 
shortly. 

“ Ah,  1 see  you  are  a thorough  sailor—you  are  not  to  be  in- 


198 


MY  DANISH  SWDKTHEAKT. 


structed/^  he  cried^  jocosely,  wagging  his  whiskers  at  hcK 
“ Think  of  a young  lady  being  acquainted  with  the  secret  oiE 
night  communications  at  sea!  I fear — I fear  we  shall  have  to 
wait  for  the  daylight.  But  what,^^  he  exclaimed,  unctuously, 
“ is  the  reason  of  this  exceeding  desire  to  return  home?'^ 

‘‘  Oh,  captain,^^  said  I,  “ home  is  home.^^ 

“ And  Mr.  Tregarthen  wishes  to  return  to  his  rnother,^^  said 
Helga. 

“ But,  my  dear  young  lady,  your  home  is  not  in  England, 
is  it?^^  he  asked. 

She  colored,  faltered,  and  then,  answered: 

“ My  home  is  in  Denmark. 

“ You  have  lost  your  poor  dear  father,^^  said  he,  “ and  1 
think  I understood  you  to  say,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  that  Miss 
Nielsen^s  poor  dear  mother  fell  asleep  some  years  since. 

This  was  a guess  on  his  part.  1 had  no  recollection’ what- 
ever of  having  told  him  anything  of  the  sort. 

“ I am  an  orphan,^^  exclaimed  Helga,  with  a little  hint  of 
tears  in  her  eyes,  “ and — and.  Captain  Bunting,  Mr.  Tregar- 
then and  I want  to  return  home.^^ 

“ Captain  Bunting  will  see  to  that,  Helga,’^  said  I,  con- 
ceiving her  somewhat  too  importunate  in  this  direction. 

She  answered  me  with  a singularly  wistful,  anxious  look. 

The  conversation  came  to  a pause  through  the  entrance  of 
Punmeamootty.  He  arrived  with  a tray  and  hot  water,  which 
he  placed  upon  the  table  together  with  some  glasses.  The 
captain  produced  wine  and  a bottle  of  rum.  Helga  would 
take  nothing,  though  no  one  could  have  been  more  hospitably 
pressing  than  Captain  Bunting.  For  my  part,  1 was  glad  to 
till  my  glass,  as  much  for  the  sake  of  the  tonic  of  the  spirit  as 
for  the  desire  to  appear  entirely  sociable  with  this  strange 
skipper. 

“ You  can  go  forward,^^  he  exclaimed  to  the  Malay;  and 
the  fellow  went  gliding  on  serpentine  legs,  as  it  veritably 
seemed  to  me,  out  through  the  door. 

No  further  reference  was  made  to  the  subject  of  our  leaving 
the  bark.  The  captain  was  giving  us  his  experiences  of  the 
Deal  boatmen,  and  relating  an  instance  of  heroic  roguery  on 
the  part  of  the  crew  of  a galley-punt,  when  a noise  of  thick, 
throaty,  African-like  yowling  was  heard  sounding  from  some- 
where forward,  accompanied  by  one  or  two  calls  from  the 
mate  overhead. 

“1  expect  Mr.  Jones  is  taking  in  the  foretopgallant-sail,^^ 
paid  the  captain.  “ Can  it  be  necessary?  I will  retarn 
Bhnrtly/’ 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


199 


And,  giving  Helga  a convulsive  bov5^,  he  pulled  his  wide- 
-awake to  his  ears  and  wenfc  on  deck. 

“ You  look  at  me,  Hugh/^  said  Helga,  fixing  her  artless, 
sweet,  and  modest  eyes  upon  me,  “ when  1 speak  to  Captain 
Bunting  as  though  I do  wrong. 

1 answered  gently: 

“ No.  But  is  it  not  a little  ungracious,  Helga,  to  keep  on 
expressing  your  anxiety  to  get  away,  in  the  face  of  all  this 
hospitable  treatment  and  kindly  anxiety  to  make  us  comfort- 
able and  happy  while  we  remain 

She  looked  somewhat  abashed. 

“ I wish  he  was  not  so  kind,^^  she  said. 

“ What  is  your  misgiving?^^  said  I,  inclining  toward  her  to 
catch  a better  view  of  her  face. 

I fear  he  will  not  make  haste  to  transship  us,^^  she  an- 
swered. 

“ But  why  should  he  want  to  keep  us?^^ 

She  glanced  at  me  with  an  instant  surprise  emphasized  by 
a brief  parting  of  her  lips  that  was  yet  not  a smile.  She  made 
no  answer,  however. 

‘‘  He  will  not  want  to  keep  us,^^  continued  1,  talking  with 
the  confidence  of  a young  man  to  a girl  whom  he  is  protect- 
ing, and  whose  behavior  assures  him  that  she  looks  up  to  him 
and  values  his  judgment.  “We  may  prove  very  good  com- 
pany for  a day  or  two,  but  the  master  of  a vessel  of  this  sort  is 
a man  who  counts  his  sixpences,  and  he  has  no  idea  of  main- 
taining us  for  a longer  time  than  he  can  possibly  help,  depend 
upon  it.^^ 

“ 1 hope  so,^^  she  answered. 

“ But  you  don’t  think  so,”  said  I,  struck  by  her  manner. 

She  answered  by  speaking  of  his  treatment  of  his  crew,  and 
we  were  upon  this  subject  when  he  descended  the  cabin  ladder. 

“ A small  freshening  of  the  wind,”  said  he,  “ and  a trifling 
squall  of  rain.  ” There  was  no  need  for  him  to  tell  us  this, 
for  his  long  whiskers  sparkled  with  water  drops,  and  carried 
evidences  of  a brisk  shower.  “ The  bark  is  now  very  snug, 
and  there  is  nothing  in  sight,  ” said  he,  with  a sort  of  haff- 
humorous  reproachful  significance  in  his  way  of  turning  to 
Helga. 

She  smiled,  as  though  by  smiling  she  believed  1 should  be 
pleased.  The  captain  begged  her  to  drink  a little  wine  and 
eat  a biscuit,  and  she  consented.  This  seemed  to  gratify  him, 
and  his  behavior  visibly  warmed  while  he  relighted  his  cigar, 
mixed  himself  another  little  dose,  and  resumed  his  chat  about 
Deal  boatmen  and  his  experience  in  the  Downs* 


200 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A CREW  OF  MALAYS. 

VVe  sat  chatting  thus  until  something  after  nine.  The  com- 
fort of  this  cabin  after  the  lugger,  the  knowledge  that  Helga 
and  I would  each  have  a comfortable  bed,  comparatively  speak- 
ing, to  lie  in,  the  conviction  that  our  stay  in  the  bark  must  be 
short,  and  that  a very  few  hours  might  see  us  homeward  bound, 
coupled  with  a sense  of  security  such  as  never  possessed  me  in 
the  open  lugger,  not  to  mention  the  influence  of  my  one 
pretty  big  tumbler  of  rum  punchj  had  put  me  into  a good 
humor. 

“ Is  not  this  better  than  the  lugger?^^  I said  to  Helga,  as  I 
motioned  with  my  cigar  round  the  cabin,  and  pointed  to  the 
slippers  upon  my  feet.  “ Think  of  my  little  windy  bed  un- 
der that  boat's  deck,  Helga,  and  recollect  your  black  fore- 
peak." 

She  seemed  to  acquiesce.  The  captain^s  countenance  was 
bland  with  gratification. 

“ You  tell  me  you  have  not  traveled,  Mr.  Tregarthen?" 
said  he. 

“ 1 have  not,"  I replied. 

“ But  you  would  like  to  see  the  world?  All  young  men 
should  see  the  world.  Does  not  the  poet  tell  us  that  home- 
keeping youths  have  ever  homely  wits?"  and  here  he  harangued 
me  for  a little  with  commonplaces  on  the  advantages  of  travel; 
then,  adiiressing  Helga  very  smilingly,  he  said,  You  have 
seen  much  of  the  world?" 

“ Not  very  much,"  she  answered. 

“ South  America?" 

“ I was  once  at  Rio,"  she  answered.  I was  also  at  Port 
Royal,  in  Jamaica,  and  have  accompanied  my  father  in  short 
voyages  to  one  or  two  Portuguese  and  Mediterranean  ports." 

“ Come!  There  is  extensive  observation,  even  in  that," 
said  he,  “ in  one  so — in  one  whose  years  are  still  few!  Did 
you  over  visit  Table  Bay?" 

She  answered  “ No."  He  smoked  meditatively. 

“ llelga,"  said  I,  “ you  look  tired.  Would  you  like  to  go 
to  your  cabin?" 

“ J should,  Hugh. " 

“Well,  1 shall  bo  glad  to  turn  in  myself,  captain.  Will 
you  forgive  our  early  retreat?" 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  201 

^M3yall  means/^  he  exclaimed.  “Let  me  show  you  the 
cabins/’ 

lie  went  to  the  cuddy  door  and  bawled  for  Punmeamoolty. 

“Light  a lantern/’  1 heard  him  say,  “and  bring  it  aft!” 
After  a minute  or  two  the  steward  made  his  appearance  with 
a lantern  swinging  in  his  hand.  The  captain  took  it  from 
him,  and  we  passed  on  to  the  quarter-deck  where  the  hatch  lay. 
After  the  warmth  of  the  cuddy  interior,  the  wind,  chilled  as  it 
had  been  with  the  damp  of  the  squall,  seemed  to  blow  with  an 
edge  of  frost.  The  rays  of  the  lantern  danced  in  the  black- 
ness of  the  wet  planks.  The  vessel  was  rolling  slowly  and 
plunging  heavily,  and  there  were  many  heavy,  complaining, 
straining  noises  aloft  amid  the  invisible  spaces  of  canvas  swing- 
ing though  the  starless  gloom.  The  cold,  bleak  roar  of  seeth- 
ing waters  alongside  recalled  the  raft,  and  there  was  a sort  of 
sobbing  all  along  the  dusk  close  under  either  line  of  bulwarks. 

“ Let  me  help  you  through  this  little  hatch.  Miss  Nielsen,” 
said  the  captain,  dangling  the  lantern  over  it  that  we  might 
see  down  the  aperture. 

If  she  answered  him  I did  not  hear  her;  she  peered  a mo- 
ment, then  put  her  foot  over  and  vanished.  The  steps  were 
perpendicular — pieces  of  wood  nailed  to  the  bulkhead — yet 
she  had  descended  this  up-and-down  ladder  in  an  instant,  and 
almost  as  she  vanished  was  calling  to  me  from  below  to  say 
that  she  was  safe. 

“What  extraordinary  nimbleness  in  a young  lady!”  cried 
the  captain,  in  a voice  of  unaffected  admiration.  “ What  an 
exquisite  sailor!  Now,  Mr.  Tregarthen!” 

I shuffled  down,  keeping  a tight  hold  of  the  edge  of  the 
hatch,  and  felt  with  my  feet  before  there  was  occasion  to  let 
go  with  my  hands.  There  was  very  little  to  be  seen  of  this  in- 
terior by  the  lantern-light.  It  was  the  fore  part  of  the  steerage, 
so  far  as  1 could  gather,  with  two  rows  of  bulkheads  forming 
n.  little  corridor,  at  the  extremity  of  which,  aft,  1 could  faintly 
distinguish  the  glimmering  outlines  of  cases  of  light  cargo. 
Forward  of  the  hatch  through  which  we  had  descended  there 
stood  a solid  bulkhead,  so  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen  that 
way.  The  doors  of  the  cabin  opened  out  of  the  little  corri- 
dor; they  were  mere  pigeon-holes;  but  then  these  ’tween  decks 
were  very  low,  and  while  I stood  erect  1 felt  the  crown  of  the 
wideawake  I wore  brushing  the  planks. 

Never  could  I have  imagined  so  much  noise  in  a ship  as  was 
here — the  squeaking,  the  grinding,  the  groaning;  the  jar  and 
shock  of  the  rudder  upon  its  post;  the  thump  of  the  seas  out- 
side^ and  the  responsive  throbbing  within;  the  sullen^  muffled 


302 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


roar  of  the  Atlantic  surge  washing  past;  all  these  notes  wer« 
blended  into  such  a confusion  of  sounds  as  is  not  to  be  ex- 
pressed. The  lantern  swayed  in  the  captain ^s  hand,  and  the 
shadows  at  our  feet  sprung  from  side  to  side.  There  were 
shadows,  too,  all  round  about,  wildly  playing  upon  the  walls 
and  bulkheads  of  the  vessel  with  a mopping  and  mowing  of  them 
that  might  have  filled  a lonely  and  unaccustomed  soul  down 
here  with  horrible  imaginations  of  sea  monsters  and  ocean 
specters. 

“ I heartily  wish.  Miss  Nielsen,  cried  the  captain — and, 
in  truth,  he  had  need  to  exert  his  voice  to  be  audible  amid 
that  bewildering  clamor — “ that  you  had  suffered  me  to  pro- 
vide you  with  better  accommodation  than  this.  Jones  could 
have  done  very  well  down  here.  However,  for  to-night  this 
will  be  your  cabin.  To-morrow  I hope  you  will  change  your 
mind,  and  consent  to  sleep  above. 

So  saying,  he  opened  the  foremost  of  the  little  doors  on  the 
port  side.  It  was  a mere  hole  indeed,  yet  it  somehow  took  the 
civilized  look  of  an  ordinary  ship’s  berth  from  the  round 
scuttle  or  thickly  glazed  port-hole  which  lay  in  an  embrasure 
deep  enough  to  comfortably  warrant  the  thickness  of  the  ves- 
sel’s side.  Under  this  port-hole  was  a narrow  bunk,  and  in  it 
a bolster,  and,  as  1 might  suppose,  blankets,  over  which  was 
spread  a very  handsome  rug.  I swiftly  took  note  of  one  or 
two  conveniences — a looking-glass,  a wash-stand  secured  to  the 
bulkhead  (this  piece  of  furniture  I made  no  doubt  had  come 
direct  from  the  captain’s  cabin),  there  was  also  a little  table, 
and  upon  it  a comb  and  brush,  and  on  the  cabin-deck  was  a 
square  of  carpet. 

“ Very  poor  quarters  for  you.  Miss  Nielsen,”  said  the  cap- 
tain, looking  round,  his  nose  and  whiskers  appearing  twice  as 
long  in  the  fluctuations  of  the  lantern-light  and  his  fixed  smile 
odd  beyond  words,  with  the  tumbling  of  the  shadows  over  his 
face. 

“ The  cabin  is  very  comfortable,  and  you  are  very  kind,” 
exclaimed  Helga. 

‘‘You  are  good  to  say  so.  I wish  you  a good-night  and 
pleasant  dreams.” 

lie  extended  his  hand,  and  held  hers,  I thought,  rather 
longer  than  mere  courtesy  demanded. 

“ That  will  be  your  cabin,  Mr.  Tregarthen,”  said  he,  going 
to  the  door. 

1 bade  ITelga  good-night.  It  was  hard  to  interpret  her 
looks  by  that  light,  yet  I fancied  she  had  something  to  say, 
and  bent  my  ear  to  her  mouth;  but  instead  of  speaking  she 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


203 


hurriedly  passed  her  right  hand  down  my  sleeve,  by  no  means 
caressingly,  but  as  though  she  desired  to  cleanse  or  dry  her 
fingers.  I looked  at  her,  and  she  turned  away. 

“ Good-night,  Helga!^’  said  I. 

‘‘  Good-night,  Hugh!^^  she  answered. 

You  will  find  a bolt  to  your  door,  Miss  Nielsen, called 
the  captain.  ‘‘  Oh,  by  the  way,^^  he  added,  “ I do  not  mean 
that  you  shall  undress  in  the  dark.  There  is  an  opening  over 
your  door;  I will  hang  the  lantern  amidships  here.  It  will 
shed  light  enough  to  see  by,  and  in  half  an  hour,  if  that  will 
not  be  too  soon,  Punmeamootty  will  remove  it.  Good-night, 
Mr.  Tregarthen!^^ 

He  left  me,  after  hanging  up  the  lantern  by  a hook  fixed  in 
a beam  amidships  of  the  corridor.  I waited  until  his  figure 
disappeared  up  the  steps  of  the  hatch,  and  then  called  to 
Helga.  She  heard  me  instantly,  and  cried,  “ What  is  it, 
Hugh?^^ 

“ Did  you  not  want  to  say  something  to  me  just  now?^^  I 
exclaimed. 

She  opened  the  door  and  repeated,  “ What  is  it,  Hugh?  I 
can  not  hear  you.^^ 

“ 1 thought  you  wished  to  speak  to  me  just  now,^^  said  1, 
“ but  were  hindered  by  the  captain^s  presence.’^ 

“ No,  1 have  nothing  to  say,^^  she  answered,  looking  very 
pale  in  the  frolic  of  shadows  made  by  the  swinging  lantern. 

‘‘Why  did  you  stroke  down  my  arm?  Was  it  a rebuke? 
Have  1 offended  you?^’ 

“ Oh,  Hugh!’^  she  cried;  then  exclaimed:  “ Could  not  you 
see  what  I meant?  I acted  what  I could  not  speak. 

“ I do  not  understand,^^  said  1. 

“ 1 wished  to  wipe  off  the  grasp  of  that  man^s  hand,^^  she 
exclaimed. 

“Poor  wretch!  Is  he  so  soiling  as  all  that,  Helga?  And 
yet  how  considerate  he  is!  I believe  he  has  half  denuded  his 
cabin  for  you.^^ 

“ Well,  good-night  once  more,^^  said  she,  and  closed  the  door 
of  her  berth  upon  herself. 

1 entered  my  cabin,  wondering  like  a fool.  I could  witness 
nothing  but  groundless  aversion  in  her  thoughts  of  this  Cap- 
tain Bunting,  and  felt  vexed  by  her  behavior;  for  first  1 con- 
sidered that,  as  in  the  lugger  so  here — some  days,  ay,  and  even 
some  weeks,  might  pass  without  providing  us  with  the  chance 
of  being  conveyed  on  board  a homeward-bound  ship.  I do 
not  say  I believed  this;  but  it  was  a probable  thing,  and  there 
was  that  degree  of  risk,  therefore,  in  it.  Then  I reflected 


204 


that  it  was  in  the  power  of  Captain  Bunting  to  render  our  stay 
in  his  vessel  either  as  agreeable  as  he  had  the  power  to  make 
it,  or  entirely  uncomfortable  and  wretched  by  neglect,  inso- 
lence, bad-humor,  and  the  like.  I therefore  regarded  Ifelga’s 
behavior  as  impolitic,  and,  not  having  the  sense  to  see  into  it 
so  as  to  arrive  at  a reason,  I allowed  it  to  tease  me  as  a piece 
of  silly  girlish  caprice. 

This  was  in  my  mind  as  1 entered  my  cabin.  There  was 
light  enough  to  enable  me  to  master  the  interior,  and  a glance 
around  satisfied  me  that  I was  not  to  be  so  well  used  as  llelga. 
There  were  a pair  of  blankets  in  the  bunk,  and  an  old  pewter 
basin  on  the  deck  that  was  sliding  to  and  fro  with  the  mo- 
tions of  the  vessel.  This  I ended  by  throwing  the  concern  into 
the  next  cabin,  which,  so  far  as  I could  tell,  was  half  full  of 
bolts  of  canvas  and  odds  and  ends  of  gear,  which  emitted  a 
very  strong  smell  of  tar.  However,  I was  sleepier  than  I was 
sensible  of  while  I used  my  legs,  for  I had  no  sooner  stretched 
my  length  in  the  bunk,  using  the  captain^s  slippers  rolled  up 
in  my  monkey-jacket  as  a pillow,  than  I fell  asleep,  though 
five  minutes  before  1 should  have  believed  that  tliere  was 
nothing  in  opium  to  have  induced  slumber  in  the  face  of  the 
complicated  noise  which  filled  that  interior. 

I slept  heavily  right  through  the  night,  and  awoke  at  half 
past  seven.  I saw  Punmeamootty  standing  in  the  door,  and 
believe  I should  not  have  awakened  but  for  his  being  there  and 
staring  at  me.  I lay  a minute  before  I could  bring  my  mind 
to  its  bearings;  and  1 have  some  recollection  of  stupidly  and 
drowsily  imagining  that  I had  been  set  ashore  on  an  island  by 
Captain  Bunting,  that  1 had  taken  refuge  in  a cave,  and  that 
the  owner  of  that  cave,  a yellow  wild  man,  had  looked  in,  and 
finding  me  there,  was  meditating  how  best  to  dispatch  me. 

“ Halloo?^^  said  I.  “ What  is  it?^^ 

“ You  wantchee  water,  sah?^^  said  the  man. 

“ Yes,^^  said  I,  now  in  possession  of  all  my  wits.  ‘‘You 
will  find  the  basin  belonging  to  this  berth  next  door.  A little 
cold  water,  if  you  please,  and  if  you  can  possibly  manage  it, 
Punmeamootty,  a small  bit  of  soap  and  a towel. 

He  withdrew,  and  in  a few  minutes  returned  with  the  arti- 
cles I required. 

“ flow  is  the  weather?^  ^ said  1,  with  a glance  at  the  screwed- 
up  port-hole,  the  glass  of  which  lay  as  dusky  with  grime  as  the 
scuttle  of  a whaler  that  has  been  three  years  a-fishing. 

''  ^ " ah,^^  he  answered. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


205 


**  You  will  be  glad  to  get  to  Cape  Town,  I dare  say/^  said 
I,  scrubbing  at  my  face,  and  willing  to  talk  since  I noticed  a 
disposition  in  the  fellow  to  linger.  “ Do  you  hail  from  that 
settlement,  Punmeamootty?’^ 

“ No,  sah:  I ^long  to  Ceylon,'^  he  answered. 

“ How  many  Cingalese  are  there  aboard?^’ 

“ T^ree,^^  he  answered. 

“ Do  the  rest  belong  to  the  Cape?^^ 

He  shook  his  head  and  replied,  No;  one  Burmah  man, 
anoder  Penang,  anoder  Singapore — allee  like  that. 

“ But  your  work  in  this  ship  ends  at  Cape  Town?’^ 

“ Yes,  sah,^^  he  answered,  swiftly  and  fiercely. 

“ Are  you  all  Mohammedans?^^ 

“ Yes,  allee  Mussulmen.^^ 

I understood  by  allee  that  he  meant  all.  He  fastened  his 
dusky  eyes  upon  me  with  an  expression  of  expectation  that  1 
would  pursue  the  subject:  finding  me  silent,  he  looked  behind 
him  and  then  said,  in  a species  of  English  that  was  not 
“ pigeon,’^  and  that  I can  but  feebly  reproduce,  though,  to  be 
sure,  what  was  most  remarkable  it  came  from  the  color  it  took 
through  his  intonation,  and  that  glitter  in  his  eyes  which  made 
them  visible  to  me  in  the  dusk  of  the  previous  evening,  “ You 
have  been  wrecked,  sah?^^  1 nodded.  “But  you  sabbee 
nabigation?^^ 

1 could  not  restrain  a laugh.  “ 1 know  nothing  of  naviga- 
tion,^^ said  1;  “but  I was  not  wrecked  for  the  want  of  it, 
Punmeamootty. 

“ But  de  beautiful  young  lady,  she  sabbee  nabigation?^^ 
said  he,  with  an  apologetic  conciliatory  grin  that  laid  bare  a 
wide  range  of  his  gleaming  white  teeth. 

“ How  do  you  know  that?^^  said  I,  struck  by  the  question. 

“ Me  hear  you  tell  de  captain,  sah.^^ 

“ Yes,^^  said  1.  “ I believe  she  can  navigate  a ship.^^  He 

tossed  his  hands  and  rolled  up  his  eyes  in  ludicrous  imitation, 
as  I thought,  of  his  captain^s  behavior  when  he  desired  to  ex- 
press admiration.  “ She  beautiful  young  lady,^^  he  exclaimed, 
“ and  werry  good — kind  smile,  and  berry  sorry  for  poor  Mus- 
sulmen,  sah/^ 

“ 1 know  what  you  mean,  Punmeamootty,^^  said  I.  “ We 
are  both  very  sorry,  believe  me!  The  captain  means  well  — 
the  man^s  teeth  met  in  a sudden  snap  as  I said  this — the  man 
means  well,^^  1 repeated,  eying  him  steadily,  “but  it  is  a 
mistaken  kindness.  The  lady  and  I will  endeavor  to  influ- 
ence him;  though,  at  the  same  time,  we  trust  to  be  out  of  the 


MT  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


206 

s'lip  very  soon,  possibly  too  soon  to  bo  of  any  use.  Anything 
iw  sight?” 

‘^No,  sah.” 

lie  loitered  still,  as  though  ho  had  more  to  say.  Finding 
me  silent,  he  made  aii  odd  sort  of  obeisance  and  disappeared. 

llelga^s  cabin  door  was  shut.  1 listened,  but  could  not 
collect  amid  the  creaking  noises  that  she  was  stirring  within. 
It  was  likely  she  had  passed  an  uneasy  night  and  was  now  sleep- 
ing, and  in  that  belief  I gained  the  hatchway  and  mounted  on 
deck. 

The  first  person  I saw  was  Helga.  She  was  talking  to  the 
two  boatmen  at  the  foot  of  the  little  poop-ladder,  under  the 
lee  of  the  bulwarks,  which  were  very  nearly  the  height 
of  a man.  The  decks  were  still  dark  with  the  swabbing-up 
of  the  brine  with  which  they  had  been  scoured.  The  galley 
chimney  was  hospitably  smoking.  A group  of  the  colored  sea- 
men lounged  to  leeward  of  the  galley,  with  steaming  pannikins 
and  biscuits  in  their  hands,  and,  as  they  eat  and  drank,  they 
talked  incessantly.  The  fellow  named  Nakier  stood  on  the 
forecastle  with  his  arms  folded,  persistently  staring  aft,  as  it 
seemed  to  me,  at  Helga  and  the  boatmen.  The  sun  was 
about  half  an  hour  above  the  horizon;  the  sky  was  very  deli- 
cately shaded  with  a frosty  net-work  of  cloud,  full  of  choice 
and  tender  tints,  as  though  the  sun  were  a prism  flooding  the 
heavens  with  many-colored  radiance.  Over  the  lee-rail  the  sea 
was  running  in  a fine  rich  blue  streaked  with  foam,  and  the 
wind  was  a moderate  breeze  from  which  the  completely  clothed 
masts  of  the  bark  were  leaning  with  the  yards  braced  forward, 
for,  so  far  as  I could  tell  by  the  sun,  the  wind  was  about  south- 
east. 

All  these  details  my  eye  took  in  as  I stepped  out  of  the  hatch. 
Helga  advanced  to  meet  me,  and  I held  her  hand. 

“ You  are  looking  very  bonny  this  morning,”  said  L 
“ Your  sleep  has  done  you  good.  Good-morning,  Abraham; 
and  how  are  you,  Jacob?  You  two  are  the  men  I just  now 
want  to  see.” 

“ Marning,  Mr.  Tregarthen,”  exclaimed  Abraham.  “ How 
are  you,  sir?  HonT  Miss  Nielsen  look  first-rate?  Why,  she 
ain’t  the  same  lady  she  was  when  we  first  fell  in  with  ye.” 

“ It  is  true,  Helga,”  said  I.  “ Did  Captain  Bunting  smug- 
gle some  cosmetics  into  your  cabin  along  with  his  wash-stand?” 

“ Oh,  do  not  joke,  Hugh,”  said  she.  “ Look  around  the 
ocean : it  is  still  ban*.  ’’ 

“I’ve  bin  a-telling  Miss  Nielsen,”  exclaimed  Abraham^ 


MY-  DA  KISH  SWEETHDAKT.  20? 

''  that  them  colored  chaps  forrads area-talking  about  her  as  if 
she  were  a diwinity/^ 

“ A angel/^  said  Jacob. 

“ A diwinity/^  said  Abraham,  looking  at  his  mate.  The 
cove  they  calls  boss — that  there  Nakier  yonder,  him  as  is  a-look- 
ing  at  us  as  if  his  heart  was  a-going  to  bust — what  d^ye  think  he 
says — ay,  and  in  fust-class  English,  too?  ‘That  there  gal,^ 
says  he,  ‘ ain^t  no  English  woman.  Em  glad  to  know  it.  She^s 
got  too  sweet  a hoye  for  an  English  woman.  ^ ‘What  d^ye 
know  about  hoyes?’  says  I.  ‘English  bad,  bad,’  says  he; 
‘ some  good,’  here  he  holds  up  his  thumb  as  if  a-counting 
wan;  ‘ but  many  veree  bad,  veree  bad,’  he  says,  says  he,  and 
here  he  holds  up  his  fower  fingers,  like  a little  sprouting  of 
o’er  ripe  plantains,  meaning  fower  to  one,  I allow.” 

“ It’s  pork  as  is  at  the  bottom  o’  them  feelin’s,”  said 
Jacob. 

“ Abraham,”  said  I,  in  a low  voice,  for  I had  no  desire  to 
be  overheard  by  the  mate,  who  came  and  went  at  the  rim  of 
the  poop  overhead  in  his  walk  from  the  taffrail  to  the  break 
of  the  deck,  “ before  you  accept  Captain  Bunting’s  offer — ” 

“ I have  accepted  it,  Mr.  Tregarthen,”  he  interrupted. 

“When?” 

“ Last  noight,  or  call  it  this  marning.  He  was  up  and  down 
while  I kep’  a lookout,  and  wanst  he  says  to  me,  ‘ Are  you 
agreeable.  Vise?’  says  he;  and  I says,  ‘ Yes,  sir,’ having  talked 
the  matter  o’er  with  Jacob.” 

“ I hope  the  pair  of  you  have  thought  the  matter  well  out,” 
said  I,  with  a glance  at  the  captain’s  cabin,  from  which,  how- 
ever, we  stood  too  far  to  be  audible  to  him  in  it.  “I  saw 
Nakier  haranguing  you  yesterday  afternoon,  and,  though  you 
told  me  you  didn’t  quite  understand  him,  yet  surely  by  this 
time  you  will  have  seen  enough  to  make  you  guess  that  if  the 
captain  insists  on  forcing  pork  down  those  men’s  throats  his 
ship  is  not  going  to  continue  a floating  Garden  of  Eden.” 

“ Whoy,  that  may  be  roight  enough,”  answered  Abraham; 
“ but  them  colored  chaps’  grievances  ha’n’t  got  nothen  to  do 
with  Jacob  an’  me.  What  I considered  is  this:  here  am  I 
offered  fower  pound  a month,  and  there’s  Jacob,  who’s  to  go 
upon  the  articles  for  three  pound;  that’ll  be  seven  pound 
’twixt  us  tew  men.  Ain’t  that  money  good  enough  for  the 
likes  of  us,  Mr.  Tregarthen?  Where’s  the  ‘Airly  Marn?’ 
Where’s  my  fifteen  pound  vorth  o’  property?  Where’s  Jacob’s 
height  pound  vorth — ay,  ever  farden  of  height  pound?”  he 
exclaimed,  looking  at  Jacob,  who  confirmed  his  assurance  with 
a prodigious  nod.  “ As  to  them  leather-colored  covies,”  he 


208 


Mt  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


continued,  with  a contemptuous  look  forward,  then  pausing, 
he  cried  out,  “ ’Soides,  whoy  shouldn't  they  eat  pork?  If  irs 
good  enough  for  me  and  Jacob,  ain^t  it  good  enough  for  the 
loikes  0^  such  a poor  little  parcel  o^  sickly  flesh  as  that  ther(» 
Nakier  and  his  mates?^^ 

“ It  is  a question  of  religion  with  them,’^  said  1. 

“ Keligion!^^  grumbled  Jacob.  “ Religion,  Mr.  Tregarthen, 
don’t  lie  here,  sir,^^  putting  his  hand  upon  his  waistcoat, 
“ but  here,^^  pointing  with  a tarry-looking  finger  to  where  he 
imagined  his  heart  was.  “ There  hainH  no  religion  in  dishes. 
I’ve  heerd  of  chaps  a-preaching  in  tubs,  but  I never  heerd  of 
religion  lying  pickled  in  a cask.  Don’t  you  let  them  chaps 
gammon  you,  sir.  ’Tain’t  pork:  it’s  a detarmination  to  find 
fault.” 

“ But  have  they  not  said  enough  in  your  hearing  to  persuade 
you  they  are  in  earnest?”  said  Helga. 

“ Why,  ye  see,  lady,”  answered  Abraham,  that  their  lan- 
guage is  a sort  o’  conversation  which  there’s  ne’er  a man  along 
Deal  beach  as  has  ever  been  eddicated  in,  howe’er  it  may  be 
along  o’  your  part  o’  the  coast,  Mr.  Tregarthen.  What  they 
says  among  themselves  1 don’t  onderstand.” 

“ But  have  they  not  complained  to  you,”  persisted  Helga, 
gently,  “ of  being  obliged  by  the  captain  either  to  go  without 
food  every  other  day  or  to  eat  meat  that  is  forbidden  to  them 
by  their  religion?” 

“That  there  Nakier,”  replied  Abraham,  “spun  a long 
yarn  yesterday  to  Jacob  and  me  while  we  lay  agin  the  galley 
feeling  werry  ordinary — werry  ordinary  indeed — arter  that  there 
bad  job  of  the  ‘ Airly  Marn;’  but  he  talked  so  fast,  and  so  soft 
tew,  that  all  that  I could  tell  ye  of  his  yarn,  miss,  is  that  he 
and  his  mates  don’t  fancy  themselves  as  comfortable  as  they 
might  be.’^ 

I said  quietly,  for  Mr.  Jones  had  come  to  a halt  at  the  rail 
above  us:  “ Well,  Abraham,  my  advice  to  you  both  is,  look 
about  you  a little  while  longer  before  you  allow  your  names  to 
be  put  upon  the  articles  of  this  ship.” 

At  that  moment  the  captain  came  out  of  the  door  of  the 
cuddy,  and  the  two  boatmen,  with  a flourish  of  their  hands  to 
Helga,  went  rolling  forward.  He  came  up  to  us,  all  smiles 
and  politeness.  It  was  easy  to  see  that  he  had  taken  some 
trouble  in  dressing  himself;  his  whiskers  were  carefully 
brushed;  ho  wore  a new  purple  satin  scarf;  his  ample  black 
waistcoat  hinted  that  it  belonged  to  his  Sunday  suit,  or  “ best 
things,”  as  servants  call  them;  his  boots  were  well  polished;  he 
showed  an  abundance  of  his  white  culT,  and  his  wideawake  sat 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


209 


jauntily  upon  his  head.  His  two  or  three  chins  went  rolling 
and  disappearing  like  a groundswell  betwixt  the  opening  of  a 
pair  of  tall  starched  collars — an  unusual  embellishment,  I 
should  have  imagined,  at  sea,  where  starch  is  as  scarce  as  news- 
papers. He  hoped  Helga  had  slept  well;  he  only  trusted  that 
the  noises  of  straining  and  creaking  below  had  not  disturbed 
her.  She  must  really  change  her  mind,  and  occupy  Mr.  J ones's 
cabin.  After  shaking  me  by  the  hand,  he  seemed  to  forget 
that  1 stood  by,  so  busy  was  he  in  bis  attention  to  Helga.  He 
asked  her  to  step  on  to  the  poop  or  upper  deck. 

“ These  planks  are  not  yet  dry,^^  said  he;  “ and  besides,^^ 
he  went  on  smiling  always,  “ your  proper  place,  my  dear 
young  lady,  is  aft,  where  there  is,  at  all  events,  seclusion, 
though,  alas!  1 am  unable  to  offer  you  the  elegances  and  lux- 
uries of  an  ocean  mail  steamer. 

We  mounted  the  ladder,  and  he  came  to  a stand  to  survey 
the  sea. 

What  a mighty  waste,  is  it  not.  Miss  Nielsen?  Nothing  in 
sight.  All  hopelessly  sterile.  But  it  is  not  for  me  to  com- 
plain,*^ he  added,  significantly. 

He  then  called  to  Mr.  Jones,  and  all  very  blandly,  with  the 
gentlemanly  airs  and  graces  which  one  associates  with  the 
counter,  he  asked  him  how  the  weather  had  been  since  eight 
bells,  if  any  vessels  had  been  sighted,  and  so  forth,  talking  with 
a marked  reference  to  Helga  being  near  and  listening  to  him. 

Mr.  Jones,  with  his  purple  pimple  of  a nose  of  the  shape  of 
a woman’s  thimble  standing  out  from  the  middle  of  his  pale 
face,  with  a small  but  extraordinary  light-blue  eye  twinkling 
on  either  side  of  it  under  straw-colored  lashes  and  eyebrows 
resembling  oakum,  listened  to  and  addressed  the  captain  with 
the  utmost  degree  of  respect.  There  was  an  air  of  shabbiness 
and  of  hard  usage  about  his  apparel  that  bespoke  him  a man 
whose  locker  was  not  likely  to  be  overburdened  with  shot.  His 
walk  was  something  of  a.  shamble,  that  was  heightened  by  the 
loose  pair  of  old  carpet  slippers  he  wore,  and  by  the  frayed 
hods  of  his  breeches.  His  age  was  probably  thirty.  He  im- 
pressed me  as  a man  whose  appearance  would  tell  against  him 
among  owners  and  ship-masters,  who  would  therefore  obtain  a 
berth  with  difficulty,  but  who  when  once  in  possession  would 
hold  on  tight  by  all  possible  strenuous  effort  of  fawning,  of 
agreeing,  of  submissively  undertaking  more  work  than  a cap 
tain  had  a right  to  put  him  to. 

While  we  thus  stood  I sent  a look  round  the  little  “ Light 
of  the  World,”  to  see  what  sort  of  a ship  we  were  aboard  of, 
for  down  to  this  time  I had  scarcely  had  an  opportunity  of 


210 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


inspecting  her.  She  was  an  old  vessel,  probably  forty  years 
old.  This  I might  have  guessed  from  the  existence  of  the 
cabins  in  the  steerage;  but  her  beam  and  the  roundness  of  her 
bows  and  a universal  worn  air,  that  answered  to  the  wrinkles 
upon  the  human  countenance,  likewise  spoke  her  age  very 
plainly.  Her  fittings  were  of  the  homeliest:  there  was  no  brass- 
work  here  to  glitter  upon  the  eye;  her  deck  furniture  was,  in- 
deed, as  coarse  and  plain  as  a smack's,  with  a look  about  the 
skylight,  about  the  companion  hatch-cover,  about  the  drumhead 
of  the  little  quarter-deck  capstan,  and  about  the  line  of  the 
poop  and  bulwark  rail,  as  though  they  had  been  used  over  and 
over  again  by  generations  of  seamen  for  cutting  uj)  plug  to- 
bacco upon.  She  had  a very  short  forecastle-deck  foi  ward, 
under  which  you  saw  the  heel  of  the  bowsprit  and  the  heaped 
mass  of  windlass;  but  the  men's  sleeping  quarters  were  in  the 
deck  beneath,  to  which  access  was  to  be  had  only  by  wliat  is 
commonly  called  a fore-scuttle— that  is  to  say,  a little  hatch 
with  a cover  to  it,  which  could  be  bolted  and  padlocked  at  will. 
Abaft  the  galley  lay  the  long-boat,  a squab  tub  of  a fabric  like 
the  mother  whose  daughter  she  was.  It  rested  in  chocks,  on 
its  keel,  and  was  lashed  to  bolts  in  the  deck.  There  were 
some  spare  booms  secured  on  top  of  it,  but  the  boat's  one  use 
now  was  as  a receptacle  for  poultry  for  the  captain's  table. 
On  either  side  of  the  poop  hung  a quarter-boat  in  davits — plain 
structures,  sharp-ended  like  whaling-boats.  Add  a few  de- 
tails, such  as  a scuttle-butt  for  holding  fresh  water  for  the 
crew  to  drink  from;  a harness-cask  against  the  cuddy  front, 
for  storing  the  salted  meats  for  current  use;  the  square  of  the 
main-hatch  tarpaulined  and  battened  down;  and  then  the 
yards  mounting  the  masts  and  rising  from  courses  to  royals, 
spars  and  gear  looking  as  old  as  the  rest  of  the  ship,  though  the 
sails  seemed  new,  and  shone  very  white  as  the  wind  swelled 
their  breast  to  the  sun,  and  you  have  as  good  a picture  as  lean 
put  before  you  of  this  “ Light  of  the  World  " that  was  bear- 
ing Helga  and  me  hour  by  hour  further  and  deeper  into  the 
heart  of  the  great  Atlantic,  and  that  was  also  to  be  the  theater 
of  one  of  the  strangest  and  wildest  of  the  events  which  fur- 
nished forth  this  trying  and  desperate  passage  of  my  life. 

Captain  Bunting  moved  away  with  an  invitation  in  his  man- 
ner to  Helga  to  walk.  I lingered  to  exchange  a word  with  the 
mate  from  the  mere  desire  to  be  civil.  Helga  called  me  with 
her  eyes  to  accompany  her,  tlien,  hearing  me  speak  to  Mr. 
Jones,  she  joined  the  captain  and  paced  by  his  side.  I spied 
him  making  an  angle  of  his  arm  for  her  to  take,  but  she  looked 
away,  and  he  let  fall  his  hand. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAliT. 


211 


If  Abraham  Wise/^  said  I,  “ agrees  to  sail  with  you,  Mr. 
Jones,  you  will  have  a very  likely,  lively  fellow  to  relieve  you 
in  keeping  watch. 

“Yes;  he  seems  a good  man.  It  is  a treat  to  see  a white 
face  knocking  about  this  vesseFs  deck,^^  he  answered,  in  a 
spiritless  way,  as  though  he  found  little  to  interest  him  when 
his  captain  ^s  back  was  turned. 

“ You  certainly  have  a very  odd-looking  crew,^^  said  I. 
“ I believe  I should  not  have  the  courage  to  send  myself  adrift 
along  with  one  white  man  only  aboard  a craft  full  of  Malays. 

“ There  were  three  of  us,^^  he  answered,  “ but  Winstanley 
disappeared  shortly  after  we  had  sailed. 

As  he  spoke,  Nakier,  on  the  forecastle,  struck  a little  silver- 
toned  bell  eight  times,  signifying  eight  o^clock. 

“ Who  is  that  copper-colored,  scowling-looking  fellow  at  the 
wheel?"^  1 asked,  indicating  the  man  who  had  been  at  the 
helm  when  Helga  and  1 came  on  board  on  the  preceding  day. 

“ His  name  is  Ong  Kew  Ho,’^  he  answered.  “ A rare 
beauty,  ain^t  he?^^  he  added,  with  a little  life  coming  into  his 
eyes.  “ His  face  looks  rotten  with  ripeness.  Sorry  to  say  he’s 
in  my  watch,  and  he’s  the  one  of  them  all  that  I never  feel  very 
easy  with  of  a dark  night  when  he’s  where  he  is  now  and  I’m 
alone  here.” 

“ But  the  look  of  those  Asiatic  folk  don’t  always  express 
their  minds,”  said  1.  “I  remember  boarding  a ship  ofiE  the 
town  I belong  to  and  noticing  among  the  crew  the  most  hid- 
eous, savage-looking  creature  it  would  be  possible  to  imagine: 
eyes  asquint,  a flat  nose  with  nostrils  going  to  either  cheek, 
black  hair  wriggling  past  his  ears  like  snakes,  and  a mouth 
like  a terrible  wound;  indeed,  he  is  not  to  be  described;  yet 
the  captain  assured  me  he  was  the  gentlest,  best-behaved  man 
he  had  ever  had  under  him,  and  the  one  favorite  of  the  crew.” 

“ He  wasn’t  a Malay,”  said  Mr.  Jones,  dryly. 

“ The  captain  didn’t  know  his  country,” ^aid  I. 

Here  Abraham  arrived  to  take  charge  of  the  deck.  He  had 
polished  himself  up  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  and  mounted 
the  ladder  with  an  air  of  importance.  He  took  a slow,  mer- 
chant-sailor-like,  deep-sea  survey  of  the  horizon,  following  on 
with  an  equally  deliberate  gaze  aloft  at  the  canvas,  then  knuc- 
kled his  brow  to  Mr.  Jones^who  gave  him  the  course  and  ex- 
changed a few  words  with  him,  and  immediately  after  left  the 
deck,  howling  out  an  irrepressible  yawn  as  he  descended  the  lad- 
der. 

It  was  not  for  me  to  engage  Abral.'am  in  conversation.  He 
was  now  on  duty,  and  1 understood  the  sea-discipline  well 


213 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


enough  to  know  that  ho  must  be  left  alone.  I thereupon 
joined  Helga  and  Captain  Bunting,  not  a little  amused  secretly 
by  the  quarter-deck  strut  the  worthy  boatman  put  on,  by  the 
knowing,  conseqiiential  expression  in  his  eyes  as  they  met  in  a 
squint  in  the  compass-bowl,  by  his  slow  look  at  the  sea  over  the 
taffrail  and  the  twist  in  the  pursed-up  lips  as  he  went  rolling 
forward  to  the  break  of  the  poop,  viewing  the  sails  as  though 
anxious  to  find  something  wrong,  that  he  might  give  an  order 
and  prove  his  zeal. 

At  half  past  eight  Punmeamootty  rang  a little  bell  in  the 
cabin,  and  we  went  down  to  breakfast.  The  repast,  it  was  to 
be  easily  seen,  was  the  best  the  ship^s  larder  could  furnish,  and 
in  excess  of  what  was  commonly  placed  upon  the  table.  There 
was  a good  ham,  there  was  a piece  of  ship^s  corned  beef,  and  1 
recollect  a jar  ot  marmalade,  some  white  biscuit,  and  a pot  of 
hot  coffee.  Tlie  colored  steward  waited  nimbly,  with  a singu- 
lar swiftness  and  eagerness  of  manner  when  attending  to  Helga, 
at  whom  I would  catch  him  furtively  gazing  askant,  with  an 
expression  in  his  fiery,  dusky  eyes  that  was  more  of  wonder  and 
respect,  1 thought,  than  of  admiration.  At  times  he  would 
send  a sideways  look  at  the  captain  that  put  the  fancy  of  a 
flourished  knife  into  one^s  head,  so  keen  and  sudden  and 
gleaming  was  it.  Mr.  Jones  had  apparently  breakfasted  and 
withdrawn  to  his  cabin,  thankful,  no  doubt,  for  the  chance  to 
stretch  his  legs  upon  a mattress. 

In  the  course  of  the  meal  Helga  inquired  the  situation  of  the 
ship. 

“ We  are,  as  nearly  as  possible,^  ^answered  the  captain,  “ on 
the  latitude  of  the  island  of  Madeira,  and,  roundly  speaking, 
some  hundred  and  twenty  miles  to  the  eastward  of  it.  But 
you  know  how  to  take  an  observation  of  the  sun,  Mr.  Tre- 
garthen  informed  me.  I.  have  a spare  sextant,  and  at  noon 
you  and  1 will  together  find  out  the  latitude  and  longitude.  I 
should  very  well  like  to  have  my  reckoning  confirmed  byyou,^^ 
and  he  leaned  toward  her,  and  smiled  and  looked  at  her. 

She  colored,  and  said  that,  though  her  father  had  taught  her 
navigation,  her  calculations  could  not  be  depended  upon.  But 
for  her  wish  to  please  me,  I believe  she  would  not  have  troubled 
herself  to  give  him  that  answer,  but  coldly  proceeded  with  the 
question  she  now  put: 

“ Since  we  are  so  close  to  Madeira,  Captain  Bunting,  would 
it  be  im^onveniiuieiMo;  vou  to  sail  your  bark  to  that  island, 
where  we  are  sure  to  liud  a steamer  to  carry  us  home?^^ 

He  softly  shook  his  head  with  an  expression  of  bland  concern, 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART.  21S 

While  he  sentimentally  lifted  his  eyes  to  the  tell-tale  compass 
above  his  head. 

“You  ask  too  much,  Helga/"  said  L “You  must  know 
that  the  deviation  of  a ship  from  her  course  may  vitiate  hei 
policy  of  insurance.,  should  disaster  follow. 

“Just  so!’^  exclaimed  the  captain,  with  a thankful  and 
smiling  inclination  of  his  head  at  me. 

“ Besides,  Helga,^^  said  I,  gently,  “ supposing,  on  our  ar- 
rival at  Maderia,  we  should  find  no  steamer  going  to  England 
for  some  days,  what  should  we  do?  There  are  no  houses  of 
charity  in  that  island  of  Portuguese  beggars,  1 fear;  and  Cap- 
tin  Bunting  may  readily  guess  how  it  happens  that  I left  my 
purse  at  home.^* 

“Just  so!^^  he  repeated,  giving  me  such  another  nod  as 
he  had  before  bestowed. 

The  subject  dropped.  The  captain  made  some  remark  about 
the  part  of  the  ocean  we  were  in  being  abundantly  navigated  by 
homeward-bound  craft,  then  talked  of  other  matters;  but 
whatever  he  said,  though  directly  addressed  to  me,  seemed  to 
my  ear  to  be  spoken  for  the  girl,  as  though,  indeed,  were  she 
absent,  he  would  talk  little  or  in  another  strain. 


CHAPTEE  XVllL 

BUNTING^S  FORECASTLE  FARE. 

When  breakfast  was  ended,  Helga  left  the  table  to  go  to  her 
cabin.  Punmeamootty  began  to  clear  away  the  things. 

“ You  can  go  forward,^  ^ said  the  captain.  “ I will  call  you 
when  1 want  you.'’^  I was  about  to  rise.  “ A minute,  Mr. 
Tregartnen,^’  he  exclaimed. 

He  lay  back  in  his  chair,  stroking  first  one  whisker  and  then 
the  other,  with  his  eyes  thoughtfully  surveying  the  upper  deck, 
at  which  he  smiled  as  though  elated  by  some  fine  happy 
fancies.  He  hung  in  the  wind  in  this  posture  for  a little 
while,  then  inclined  himself  with  a confidential  air  toward  me, 
clasping  his  fat  fingers  upon  the  table. 

“ Miss  Nielsen/^  said  he,  softly,  “ is  an  exceedingly  attract- 
ive young  lady.^^ 

“ She  is  a good,  brave  girl,^^  said  I,  “ and  pretty  too.^^ 

“ She  calls  you  Hugh,  and  you  call  her  Helga — Helga!  a 
very  noble,  stirring  name— -quite  like  the  blast  of  a trumpet, 
with  something  biblical  about  it  too,  though  I do  not  know 
that  it  occurs  in  Holy  Writ.  Pray  forgive  me.  This  familiar 
interchange  of  names  suggests  that  there  may  be  more  between 
YOU  than  exactly  meets  the  eye,  as  the  poet  observes- 


214 


. DANISH  S>»^ii:THEART. 


“ Nol^^  1 answered^  with  a laugh  that  was  made  short  by 
surprise.  “ If  you  mean  to  ask  whether  we  are  sweethearts, 
my  answer  is — No.  We  met  for  the  first  time  on  the  twenty- 
first  of  this  month,  and  since  then  our  experiences  have  been 
of  a sort  to  forbid  any  kind  of  emotion  short  of  a profound 
desire  to  get  home.^^ 

“ Home!^^  said  he.  “ But  her  home  is  in  Denmark?^^ 

“ Her  father,  as  he  lay  dying,  asked  me  to  take  charge  of 
her  and  see  her  safe  to  Kolding,  where  I believe  she  has 
friends,^^  I answered,  not  choosing  to  hint  at  the  little  half- 
matured  programme  for  her  that  was  in  my  mind. 

“ She  is  an  orphan, said  he;  “ but  she  has  friends,  you 
say?’^ 

‘‘  1 believe  so,^^  I answered,  scarcely  yet  able  to  guess  at  the 
many's  meaning. 

‘‘  You  have  known  her  since  the  twenty-first,^^  he  exclaimed: 
“ to-day  is  the  thirty-first— just  ten  days.  Well,  in  that  time 
a shrewd  young  gentleman  like  you  will  have  observed  much 
of  her  character.  1 may  take  it,^^  said  he,  peering  as  closely 
into  my  face  as  our  respective  positions  at  the  table  would 
suffer,  ‘‘that  you  consider  her  a thoroughly  religious  young 
woman?^^ 

“ Why,  yes,  I should  think  so,"^  1 answered,  not  suffering 
my  astonishment  to  hinder  me  from  being  as  civil  and  concili- 
atory as  possible  to  this  man,  who,  in  a sense,  was  our  deliv- 
erer, and  who,  as  our  host,  was  treating  us  with  great  kindness 
and  courtesy. 

“ 1 will  not,^^  said  he,  inquire  her  disposition.  She  im- 
presses me  as  a very  sweet  young  person.  Her  manners  are 
genteel.  She  talks  with  an  educated  accent,  and  1 should  say 
her  lamented  father  did  not  stint  his  purse  in  training  her.^^ 

1 looked  at  him,  merely  wondering  what  he  would  say  next. 

“ It  is,  at  all  events,  satisfactory  to  know,^^  said  he,  lying 
back  in  his  chair  again,  “ that  there  is  nothing  between  you — 
outside,  1 mean,  the  friendship  which  the  very  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances under  which  you  met  would  naturally  excite.’^ 
He  lay  silent  awhile,  smiling.  “ May  I take  it,^^  said  he, 
“ that  she  has  been  left  penniless?^^ 

“ I fear  it  is  so,^^  I replied. 

He  meditated  afresh. 

“ Do  you  think,^’  said  he,  “ you  could  induce  her  to  accom- 
pany you  in  my  ship  to  the  Cape?^’ 

“ No,^^  cried  1,  starting,  “ I could  not  induce  her,  indeed, 
and  for  a very  good  reason;  I could  not  induce  myself. 

“ But  whyr^  he  exclaimed,  in  his  oiliest  tone.  “ Why  de- 


MY  BAI^-ISH  SWEETHEART. 


215 


dine  to  gee  the  great  world,  the  wonders  of  this  noble  fabric 
of  universe,  when  the  opportunity  comes  to  you?  You  shall 
be  my  guests;  in  short,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  the  round  voyage 
sha^n^t  cost  you  a pennv!^^ 

“You  are  very  good  I exclaimed,  “but  I have  left  mv 
mother  alone  at  home.  I am  her  only  child,  and  she  k a 
widow,  and  my  desire  is  to  return  quickly,  that  she  may  bj 
spared  unnecessary  anxiety  and  grief. 

“A  very  proper  and  natural  sentiment,  pleasingly  ex- 
pressed,^^ said  he;  “ yet  I do  not  quite  gather  how  your  desire 
to  return  to  your  mother  concerns  Helga — 1 should,  say  Miss 
Nielsen 

I believe  he  would  have  paused  at  “ Helga  and  not  have 
added  “ Miss  Nielsen  but  for  the  look  he  saw  in  my  face. 
Yet,  stirred  as  my  temper  was  by  this  half-hearted  stroke  of 
impertinent  familiarity  in  the  man,  I took  care  that  there 
should  be  no  further  betrayal  of  my  feelings  than  what  might 
be  visible  in  my  looks. 

“ Miss  Nielsen  wishes  to  return  with  me  to  my  mother’s 
house,’-  said  1,  quietly:  “you  were  good  enough  to  assure  us 
that  there  should  be  no  delays.” 

“You  only  arrived  yesterday!”  he  exclaimed,  “ and  down 
to  this  moment  we  have  sighted  nothing.  But  why  do  you 
suppose,”  added  he,  “ that  Miss  Nielsen  is  not  to  be  tempted 
into  making  the  round  voyage  with  me  in  this  bark?” 

“ She  must  speak  for  herself,”  said  1,  still  perfectly  cool, 
and  no  longer  in  doubt  as  to  how  the  land  lay  with  this  gen- 
tleman. 

“ You  have  no  claim  upon  her,  Mr.  Tregarthen?”  said  he, 
with  one  of  his  blandest  smiles. 

“ No  claim  whatever,”  said  I,  “ outside  the  obligation  im- 
posed upon  me  by  her  dying  father.  I am  her  protector,  by 
his  request,  until  I land  her  safely  among  her  friends  in  Den- 
mark.” 

“ Just  so,”  said  he;  “ but  it  might  happen— it  might  just 
possibly  happen,”  he  continued,  letting  his  head  fall  on  one 
side  and  stroking  his  whiskers,  “ that  circumstances  may  arise 
to  render  her  return  to  Denmark  under  your  protection  un- 
necessary. ” 

1 looked  at  him,  feigning  not  to  understand. 

“ Now,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  see  here,”  said  he,  and  his  blind- 
ness yielded  for  an  instant  to  the  habitual  professional  peremp- 
toriness of  the  ship-mast^  {.xtremeiy desirous, of  mak- 

ing Miss  Nielsen’s  better  aeqtkaiutance,  and  I am  also  much  in 
earnest  in  wishing  that  she  ahoiiVl  .get  to  know  my  character 


216 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


very  well.  This  can  not  be  done  in  a few  hours,  nor,  indeed, 
in  a few  days.  You  will  immensely  oblige  me  by  coaxing  the 
young  lady  to  remain  in  this  vessel.  There  is  nothing  between 
you.  ...  Just  so.  She  is  an  orphan,  and  there  is  reason  to 
fear,  from  what  you  tell  me,  comparatively  speaking,  friend- 
less. We  must  all  of  us  desire  the  prosperity  of  so  sweet  and 
amiable  a female.  It  may  happen,^’  he  exclaimed,  with  a 
singularly  deep  smile,  “ that  before  many  days  have  passed  she 
will  consent  to  bid  you  farewell  and  to  continue  the  voyage 
alone  with  me. 

I opened  my  eyes  at  him,  but  said  nothing. 

“ A few  days  more  or  less  of  absence  from  your  home,^^  he 
continued,  “ can  not  greatly  signify  to  you.  We  have  a right 
to  hope,  seeing  how  virtuously,  honorably,  and  heroically  you 
have  behaved,  that  Providence  is  taking  that  care  of  your  dear 
mother  which,  let  us  not  doubt,  you  punctually,  morning  and 
night,  offer  up  your  prayers  for.  But  a few  days  may  make 
a vast  difference  in  Miss  Nielsen^s  future;  and,  having  regard 
to  the  solemn  obligation  her  dying  father  imposed  upon  you, 
it  should  be  a point  of  duty  with  you,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  to  ad- 
vance her  interests,  however  inconvenienced  you  may  be  by 
doing  so. 

Happily,  his  long-windedness  gave  me  leisure  to  think.  I 
could  have  answered  him  hotly;  I could  have  given  him  the 
truth  very  nakedly;  I could  have  told  him  that  his  words  were 
making  me  understand  there  was  more  in  my  heart  for  Helga 
than  I had  been  at  all  conscious  of  twenty  minutes  before. 
But  every  instinct  in  me  cried.  Beware!  to  the  troop  of  emo- 
tions hurrying  through  my  mind,  and  1 continued  to  eye  him 
coolly  and  to  speak  with  a well-simulated  carelessness. 

“ I presume.  Captain  Bunting,  said  I,  “ that  if  Miss  Niel- 
sen persists  in  her  wish  to  leave  your  ship  you  will  not  hinder 
her?^^ 

“ That  will  be  the  wish  I desire  to  extinguish,  said  he;  ‘‘I 
believe  it  may  be  done.^^ 

“ You  will  please  remember,’^  said  I,  “ that  Miss  Nielsen  is 
totally  unequipped  even  for  a week  or  two  of  travel  by  sea,  let 
alone  a round  voyage  that  must  run  into  months. 

“ 1 understand  you,^^  he  answered,  motioning  with  his  hand; 
“ but  the  difficulty  is  easily  met.  The  Canary  Islands  are  not 
far  off.  Santa  Cruz  will  supply  all  her  requirements.  My 
nurse  is  wholly  at  her  service..  And  with  regard  to  yourself, 
Mr.  Tregarthen,  1 should  be  happy  to  advance  you  any  sum 
in  moderation,  to  enable  you  to  satisfy  your  few  wants/^ 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


217 

**  You  are  very  good/^  said  I;  but  1 am  afraid  we  shall 
have  to  get  you  to  transship  us  at  the  first  opportunity/^ 

A shadow  of  temper  that  was  not  a frown,  and  therefore  I 
do  not  know  well  how  to  convey  it,  penetrated  his  smile. 

“ You  will  think  over  it,^^  said  he.  “ Time  does  not  press. 
Yet  we  shall  not  find  another  port  so  convenient  as  Bant  a 
Oruz.^’ 

As  h«  pronounced  these  words  Helga  entered  the  cuddy. 
He  instantly  rose,  bowing  to  her  and  smiling,  but  said  no  more 
than  that  he  hoped  shortly  to  join  us  on  deck.  He  then  en- 
tered his  berth. 

Helga  approached  me  close,  and  studied  my  face  for  a mo- 
ment or  two  in  silence  with  her  soft  eyes. 

“ What  is  the  matter,  Hngh?^^  she  asked. 

1 looked  at  her  anxiously  and  earnestly,  not  knowing  as  yet 
how  to  answer  her,  whether  to  conceal  or  to  tell  her  what  had 
passed.  I was  more  astonished  than  irritated,  and  more  wor- 
ried and  perplexed  than  either.  Here  was  an  entanglement 
that  might  vastly  amuse  an  audience  in  a comedy,  but  that, 
in  its  reality,  was  about  as  grave  and  perilous  a complication 
as  could  befall  us.  With  the  v^elocity  of  thought,  even  while 
the  girl’s  eyes  were  resting  on  mine  and  she  was  awaiting  my 
reply,  1 reflected — first,  that  we  were  in  the  power  of  this 
captain,  in  respect,  1 mean,  of  his  detention  of  us,  while  his 
vessel  remained  at  sea;  next,  that  he  had  fallen  in  love  with 
Helga;  that  he  meant  to  win  her  if  he  could;  that  his  self- 
complacency  would  render  him  profoundly  hopeful,  and  that 
he  would  go  on  keeping  us  on  board  his  craft  under  one  pre- 
text or  another  in  the  conviction  that  his  chance  lay  in  time, 
with  the  further  help  that  would  come  to  him  out  of  her  con- 
dition as  an  orphan  and  penniless. 

What  is  it,  Hugh?^^ 

The  sudden,  brave,  determined  look  that  entered  the  gir/s 
face,  as  though  she  had  scented  a danger  and  had  girded  her 
spirit  for  it,  determined  me  to  give  her  the  truth. 

“ Come  on  deck!^^  said  I. 

I took  her  hand,  and  we  went  up  the  little  companion  steps. 

Abraham  was  standing  near  the  wheel,  exchanging  a word 
or  two  with  the  yellow-skin  who  had  replaced  th^  fierce-faccd 
creature  of  the  earlier  morning.  There  was  warmth  in  the 
sun,  and  the  sky  was  a fine  clear  blue  dome,  here  and  there 
freckled  by  remains  of  the  interlacery  of  cloud  which  had  set- 
tled away  into  the  west  and  north.  The  breeze  was  a soft, 
caressing  air,  with  a hint  of  tropic  breath  and  of  the  equatorial 
gea-perfume  in  it,  and  the  round-bowed  bark  was  sliding  alon| 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


218 

nt  some  four  or  five  miles  an  hour,  with  a simmering  noise  of 
broken  waters  at  her  side.  There  was  nothing  in  sight.  Two 
or  three  copper- colored  men  squatted,  with  palms  and  needles 
j'n  their  hands,  upon  a sail  stretched  along  the  waist;  Nakier, 
on  the  forecastle-head,  was  standing,  with  a yellow  paw  at  the 
side  of  his  mouth,  calling  instructions,  in  some  Asiatic  tongue, 
to  one  of  the  crew  in  the  foretopmast  cross-trees.  1 caught 
sight  of  Jacob,  who  was  off  duty,  leaning  near  the  galley  door, 
apparently  conversing  with  some  man  within.  He  nodded 
often,  with  an  occasional  sort  of  pooh-poohing  flourish  of  his 
hand,  puffing  leisurely,  and  enjoying  the  sunshine.  On  catch- 
ing sight  of  us  he  saluted  with  a flourish  of  his  fist.  This  was 
the  little  picture  of  the  bark  as  1 remember  it  on  stepping  on 
deck  with  Helga  that  morning. 

1 took  her  to  leeward,  near  the  quarter-boat,  out  of  hearing 
of  Abraham  and  the  helmsman. 

“ Now,  what  is  it,  Hugh?^^  said  she. 

‘‘  Why  should  you  suppose  there  is  anything  wrong,  Helga 

“ I see  worry  in  your  face.^^ 

“ Well,^^  said  1,  “ here  is  exactly  how  matters  stand;^^  and 
with  that  I gave  her,  as  best  my  memory  could,  every  sentence 
of  the  captain^s  conversation.  She  blushed,  and  turned  pale, 
and  blushed  again;  the  shadows  of  a dozen  emotions  passed 
over  her  face  in  swift  succession,  and  strongest  among  them 
was  consternation. 

“You  were  vexed  with  me  for  not  being  civil  enough  to 
him,  Hugh,^’  said  she,  “ and  you  would  not  understand  that 
the  civiler  I was  the  worse  it  might  be  with  us.  Such  a con- 
ceited silly  creature  would  easily  mistake. 

“ Could  1 imagine  that  he  was  in  love  with  you?^^ 

“ Oh!  do  not  say  that  again,^^  she  cried,  with  disgust  in  her 
manner,  while  she  made  as  though  to  stop  her  ears. 

“ How  could  1 guess?^^  I went  on.  “ His  behavior  seemed 
to  me  full  of  benevolence,  hospitality,  gratification  at  having 
us  to  talk  to,  with  courtesy  marked  to  you  as  a girl  delivered 
from  shipwreck  and  the  hardships  of  the  ocean. 

“ Will  no  ship  come?^^  she  cried,  looking  round  the  sea. 
“ The  thought  of  remaining  in  this  vessel,  of  having  to  dis- 
guise my  feelings  from  that  man  for  policy^s  sake,  of  being 
forced  to  sit  in  his  company  and  listen  to  him,  and  watch  his 
smile  and  receive  his  attentions  and  compliments,  grows  now 
intolerable  to  me,  Hugh!^^  and  she  brought  her  foot  with  a 
little  stamp  to  the  dec£ 

“ Hid  you  know  you  wore  so  fascinating?’^  said  I,  looking 
?it  her.  “ la  less  than  a day  you  have  brought  this  pale,  stout 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


219 


captain  to  your  feet.  In  less  than  a day!  Why,  your  charms 
have  the  potency  of  Prosperous  magic.  In  ‘ The  Tempest/ 
Ferdinand  and  Miranda  fall  deeply  in  love,  plight  their  troth, 
bill  and  coo  and  gamble  at  chess,  all  within  three  hours.  This 
little  ship  promises  to  be  the  theater  of  another  ‘ Tempest/  I 
fear.  ’ 

“ Why  did  not  you  make  him  understand,  resolutely  compel 
him  to  understand,  that  it  is  our  intention  to  return  to  Eng- 
land in  the  first  ship?^^  she  exclaimed,  with  a glow  in  her  blue 
eyes  and  a trace  of  color  in  her  cheeks  and  a tremor  in  her 
nostrils. 

“ Bluntness  will  not  do,  Helga.  We  must  not  convert  this 
man  into  an  enemy. 

“But  he  should  be  made  to  know  that  we  mean  to  go 
home,  and  that  his  ideas — she  broke  off,  turning  scarlet  on 
a sudden,  and  looked  down  over  the  rail  at  the  sea  with  a 
gleam  of  her  white  teeth  showing  upon  the  under  lip  she  bit. 

“ Helga,^^  said  I,  gently  touching  her  hand,  “you  are  a 
better  sailor  than  1.  What  is  to  be  done?^^ 

She  confronted  me  afresh,  her  blue  eyes  darkened  by  the 
suppressed  tears  which  lay  close  to  them. 

“Let  us,^^  I continued,  “look  this  matter  boldly  in  the 
face.  He  is  in  love  with  you.  For  a second  time  she  staii^ped 
her  foot  and  bit  her  lip.  “1  must  say  it,  for  there  lie^  the 
difficulty.  He  hopes,  by  keeping  you  on  board,  to  get  yau  to 
like,  and  then,  perhaps,  listen  to  him.  He  will  keep  me,  too, 
for  the  present — not  because  he  is  at  all  desirous  of  my  com- 
pany, but  because  he  supposes  that  in  your  present  mood,  or 
rather  attitude,  of  mind  you  would  not  stay  without  me,  or  at 
least  alone  with  him.^^ 

Her  M^hole  glowing  countenance  breathed  a vehement  No! 

“ He  need  not  speak  passing  ships  unless  he  chooses  to  do 
so,^^  I went  on;  “and  I doi/t  doubt  he  has  no  intention  of 
speaking  passing  ships.  What  then?  How  are  we  to  get 
home?^' 

The  expression  on  her  face  softened  to  a passage  of  earnest 
thought. 

“ We  must  induce  him  to  steer  his  ship  to  Santa  Oruz,^^  she 
exclaimed. 

“ You  will  have  to  act  a part  then,^^  said  I,  after  pausing 
to  consider.  “ He  is  no  fool.  Can  you  persuade  him  that 
you  are  in  earnest  in  wishing  to  go  to  the  Cape  in  this  ship? 
If  not,  his  long  nose  will  sniff  the  stratagem,  and  Santa  Cruz 
ia  a few  days  be  remoter  than  it  now  is.^^ 

She  reflected,  and  exclaimed: 


MY  DA  KISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ I must  act  a part  if  we  are  to  get  away  from  this  vessel. 
What  better  chance  have  we  than  S^anta  Cruz?  We  must  go 
ashore  to  make  our  purchases,  and,  when  ashore,  we  would 
stop  there.  Yet  what  a degrading,  what  a ridiculous,  what  a 
wretched  position  to  be  in!’^  she  cried.  ‘‘  I would  make  my- 
self hideous  with  iny  nails  to  get  you  safely  home  to  your 
mother,  Hugh!^^  and,  with  a dramatic  gesture  1 should  have 
deemed  the  little,  gentle  creature  incapable  of,  she  put  her 
fingers  to  her  cheeks. 

Abraham  was  now  patroling  the  deck  to  windward,  casting 
his  eyes  with  a look  of  importance  up  at  the  sails,  and  then 
directing  them  at  the  sea-line.  He  would,  to  be  sure,  find 
nothing  to  excite  his  curiosity  in  this  subdued  chat  betwixt 
Helga  and  me  to  leeward.  1 had  a mind  to  call  him  and  ex- 
plain our  new  and  astonishing  situation;  then  thought,  No; 
let  us  mature  some  scheme  first;  he  will  help  us  better  then, 
if  he  is  able  to  help  at  all.''^  1 leaned  against  the  rail  with 

folded  arms,  deeply  considering.  Il-elga  kept  her  gaze  upon 
me. 

We  should  not  scheme  as  though  Captain  Bunting  were  a 
villain said  I. 

“ He  is  a villain  to  his  men!”  she  answered. 

“ He  is  no  villain  to  us,  Helga!  What  we  do  not  like  in  him 
is  his  admiration  of  you.  But  this  does  not  make  a rascal  of 
him!” 

“ He  promised  to  transfer  us  to  the  first  ship  that  passed!” 
said  she. 

“ Shall  you  be  well  advised  in  acting  a part?”  I exclaimed. 
“ You  are  too  frank,  of  too  sweetly  genuine  a nature;  you 
could  not  act;  you  could  not  deceive  him!”  said  1,  shaking 
my  head. 

The  gratification  my  words  gave  her  rose  to  her  face  in  a 
little  smile,  that  stayed  for  a moment  like  a light  there. 

” How  frank  and  sweet  1 am  I do  not  know,”  said  she,  art- 
lessly; “ but  I love  your  praise,  Hugh!” 

Madeira  is  yonder,”  said  I,  nodding  into  the  westward, 
“some  hundred  odd  miles  distant,  according  to  our  friend^s 
reckoning.  If  that  be  so,  the  Canaries  must  be  within  easy 
reach  of  two  or  three  days,  even  at  this  dull  pace.  In  fact, 
by  to-morrow  afternoon  we  could  be  having  the  Peak  of  Ten- 
erille  blue  in  the  heavens  over  the  bow.  We  could  not  make 
the  captain  believe,  in  that  time,  that  we,  who  have  been 
consumed  with  anxiety  to  return  to  England,  have  suddenly 
changed  our  mind  and  are  willing  to  sail  \n  his  ship  to  wher- 
ever he  may  be  bound.  He  would  say  to  himself,  ‘ ddioy  want 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART.  321 

me  to  steer  for  Santa  Cruz,  where  they  will  go  ashore  and 
leave  me.^ 

“ Yes,  that  is  likely,^'  said  the  girl. 

‘MVe  must  not  speculate  and  plan  as  though  he  were  a vil- 
lain, I repeated.  “ I believe  the  safe  course  will  be  to  be- 
have as  though  we  did  not  doubt  he  will  transfer  us  when  the 
chance  offers,  and  we  must  be  ceaseless  in  our  expressions  of 
anxiety  to  get  home,"^^ 

“ That  will  be  genuine  in  us,^^  said  Helga,  “ and  1 would 
rather  act  so.  He  will  soon  discover,^^  added  she,  coloring, 
“ that  he  is  merely  increasing  the  expenses  of  the  voyage  by 
detaining  us.^^ 

“ He  is  not  a rascal,'^  said  1;  “he  means  very  honestly;  he 
wishes  to  make  you  his  wife.^^  She  raised  her  hand.  “ Ad- 
miration in  him  has  nimble  feet.  1 have  heard  of  love  at  first 
sight,  but  have  scarcely  credited  it  till  now.^^  Her  eyes  be- 
sought me  to  be  still,  but  I continued^  urged,  I believe,  by 
some  little  temper  of  jealousy,  owing  to  the  thought  of  this 
captain  being  in  love  with  her,  which  was  making  me  feel  that 
1 was  growing  very  fond  of  her  too.  “ But  his  ideas  are  those 
of  an  honorable,  pious  man,^^  said  I.  “ He  is  a widower — his 
daughter  leads  a lonely  life  at  home — he  knows  as  much  about 
you  as  he  could  find  out  by  plying  us  both  with  questions. 
He  is  certainly  not  a handsome  man,  but — here  I stopped 
short. 

She  gazed  at  me  with  an  expression  of  alarm. 

“ Oh,  Hugh!^^  she  cried,  with  touching  plaintiveness  of  air 
and  voice,  “ you  will  remain  my  friend!'^ 

“ What  have  1 said  or  done  to  make  you  doubt  it,  Helga?’^ 

“ What  would  you  counsel?^^  she  continued.  “ Do  you  in- 
tend to  side  with  him?^^ 

“ God  forbid  said  I,  hastily. 

She  turned  to  the  sea  to  conceal  her  face  from  me. 

“ Helga, said  I,  softly,  for  there  was  no  chance  for  further 
tenderness  than  speech  would  convey,  with  Abraham  stump- 
ing the  deck  to  windward  and  a pair  of  dusky  e3^es  at  the  wheel 
often  turned  upon  us,  “ I am  sorry  to  have  uttered  a syllable 
to  vex  you.  How  much  I am  your  friend  you  would  know  if 
you  could  see  into  my  heart. 

She  looked  at  me  quickly,  with  her  eyes  full  of  tears,  but 
with  a grateful  smile  too.  1 was  about  to  speak. 

“ Hush!^^  she  exclaimed,  and  walked  right  aft,  raising  her 
hand  to  her  brow,  as  though  she  spied  something  on  the 
horizon  astern. 

“ A delightful  day-— quite  tropical,^^  exclaimed  the  captain. 


222 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


advanoins:  from  the  poop-ladder.  “ What  does  Miss  Nielsen  ^ 
seer^  ^ ] 

She  is  always  searching  for  a sail/^  said  I.  ’ 

‘‘  May  I take  it/^  said  he,  ‘‘  that  you  have  communicated 
to  her  what  has  passed  between  us?^^ 

“ Captain/^  I said,  ‘‘  you  ask,  and  perhaps  you  expect,  too 
much.  You  have  been  a married  man;  you  must  therefore 
know  the  ropes,  as  the  sailors  say,  better  than  I,  who  have 
not  yet  been  in  love.  All  that  I can  positively  assure  you  is 
that  Miss  Nielsen  is  exceedingly  anxious  to  return  home  with 
me  to  England. 

“ It  would  be  unreasonable  in  me  to  expect  otherwise — for 
the  present,  said  he. 

He  left  me  and  joined  Helga,  and  1 gathered  by  the  motions 
of  his  arms  that  he  was  discoursing  on  the  beauty  of  the  morn- 
ing. Presently  he  went  below,  and  very  shortly  afterward  ar- 
rived bearing  a little  folding-chair  and  a cotton  umbrella.  He 
placed  the  chair  near  the  skylight.  Helga  seated  herself  and 
took  the  umbrella  from  him,  the  shade  of  which  she  might  find 
grateful,  for  the  sun  had  now  risen  high  in  the  heavens— there 
was  heat  in  the  light,  with  nothing  in  the  wind  to  temper  the 
rays  of  the  luminary.  The  captain  ofiered  me  a cigar  with  a 
bland  smile,  lighted  one  liimself,  and  reposed  in  a careless 
flowing  way  upon  the  skylight  close  to  Helga;  his  long  whiskers 
stirred  like  smoke  upon  his  waistcoat  to  the  blowing  of  the 
wind,  his  loose  trousers  of  blue  serge  rippled,  his  chins  seemed 
to  roll  as  though  in  motion  down  betwixt  the  points  of  his 
collar. 

Clearly  his  study  in  the  direction  of  posture  was  animated 
by  a theory  of  careless,  youthful,  sailorly  elegance;  yet  never 
did  nautical  man  so  completely  answer  to  one^s  notions  of  a 
West  End  hair-dresser. 

He  was  studiously  courteous,  and  excessively  anxious  to 
recommend  himself.  1 could  not  discover  that  he  was  in  the 
least  degree  embarrassed  by  the  supposition  that  1 had  repeated 
his  conversation  to  Helga,  though  her  manner  must  have  as- 
sured him  that  I had  told  her  everything.  He  was  shrewd 
enough  to  see,  however,  that  she  was  in  a mood  to  listen  rather 
than  to  be  talked  to,  and  so  in  the  main  he  addressed  himself 
to  me.  He  asked  me  many  questions  about  my  life-boat  ex- 
periences, particularly  wished  to  know  if.  I thought  that  my 
boat,  which  had  been  stove  in  endeavoring  to  rescue  Miss  Niel- 
sen and  her  lamented  father,  would  be  replaced. 

“ Should  a fund  be  raised,^ ^ he  exclaimed,  “ 1 beg  that  my 
name  may  not  be  omitted.  My  humble  guinea  is  entirely  at 


HY  BAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


223 


the  service  of  the  noble  cause  you  represent  And  what  grand 
end  may  not  an  humble  guinea  be  instrumental  in  promoting? 
It  may  help  to  rescue  many  wretched  souls  from  the  perdition 
that  would  otherwise  await  them  were  they  to  be  drowned 
without  having  time  to  repent  This  is  lamentably  true  of 
sailors,  Mr.  Tregarthen.  Scarcely  a mariner  perishes  at  sea 
who  would  not  require  many  years  of  a devotional  life  to  purge 
himself  of  his  numerous  vices.  An  humble  guinea  may  also 
spare  many  children  the  misery  of  being  fatherless,  and  it  may 
shed  sunshine  upon  humble  homes  by  restoring  husbands  to 
their  wives.  You  will  kindly  put  me  down  for  an  humble 
guinea. 

I thanked  him  as  though  1 supposed  he  was  in  earnest 

“ You  will  never  take  charge  of  a life-boat  again,  I hope, 
Hugh,^^  said  Helga. 

“ Why  not?  1 like  the  work,^^  1 answered. 

“ See  what  it  has  brought  you  to,^^  said  she. 

“ Into  enjoying  the  association  and  friendship  of  Miss  Helga 
Nielsen,^^  exclaimed  the  captain.  “Mr.  Tregarthen  will 
surely  not  regret  that  experience. 

“ I feel  that  I am  responsible  for  his  being  here.  Captain 
Bunting, said  she,  “and  I shall  continue  wretched  for  his 
and  his  mother^s  sake  till  we  are  journeying  to  England. 

“ I would  gladly  put  my  ship  about  and  sail  her  home  to 
oblige  you,^^  exclaimed  the  captain,  “ but  for  one  considera- 
tion: not  the  pecuniary  loss  that  would  follow — oh,  dear,  no!^^ 
he  added,  slowly  shaking  his  head;  “ it  would  too  quickly  sever 
me  from  a companionship  I find  myself  happy  in.^^ 

She  bit  her  lip,  looking  down  with  a face  of  dismay  and 
chagrin,  while  he  eyed  her  as  though  seeking  for  signs  of  grati- 
fication. 

“ The  Canary  Islands  are  within  a short  sail,  I think,  cap- 
tain, said  I. 

“ They  are,^^  he  responded. 

“ It  would  occasion  no  deviation,  I think,  for  you  to  heave 
off  some  port  there — call  it  Santa  Cruz — and  send  us  ashore 
in  one  of  your  excellent,  sharp-ended  quarter-boats.^^ 

“ That  would  be  giving  me  no  time,^^  he  answered  without 
the  least  hesitation,  and  speaking  and  smiling  in  the  politest, 
the  most  bland  manner  conceivable,  “ to  prevail  upon  you  and 
Miss  Nielsen  to  accompany  me. 

“ But  to  accompany  you  where,  captain?^  ^ cried  I,  warm- 
ing up, 

“ To  the  Oape,^^  he  answered. 


M Y DA  iN  i 6 i i S W K KTH  E A RT. 


224 


‘‘Ay,  to  the  Oape,^^  said  I ; “but  I understood  that  you 
were  to  call  there  to  discharge  a small  cargo  and  await  orders. 

“ You  do  not  put  it  quite  accurately,"^  said  he,  still  oily  to 
the  last  degree  in  his  accent  and  expression.  “ I own  the 
greater  proportion  of  this  vessel  and  my  orders  are  my  inter- 
ests. When  I have  discharged  this  cargo  I must  look  out  for 
another."" 

“ Yes,""  said  I;  “ and  when  you  have  got  it,  where  is  it  go* 
ing  to  carry  you  to?"" 

“Ah!""  he  exclaimed,  with  a sigh,  “who  can  pierce  the 
Aiture?  But  who  would  pierce  it?  Depend  upon  it,  young 
gentleman,  that  human  blindness — I mean  intellectual  blind- 
ness— ""he  was  proceeding;  but  I was  in  no  humor  to  listen 
to  a string  of  insipid,  nasally  pronounced  commonplaces. 

“ The  long  and  the  short  of  it.  Captain  Bunting,""  said  I, 
finding  an  impulse  in  the  soft  but  glowing  eyes  which  Helga 
fixed  upon  me.  But  before  I could  proceed,  Abraham  came 
from  the  little  brass  rail  which  protected  the  break  of  the  poop. 

“ Beg  pardon,  sir,""  said  he,  addressing  the  captain.  “ That 
there  chap  Nakier  has  arsted  to  be  allowed  to  say  a word  along 
wi"  ye."" 

“ Where  is  he.  Wise?""  inquired  the  captain,  smiling  into 
the  boatman"s  face. 

“ He"s  a- waiting  down  on  the»quarter-deck,  sir."" 

“ Call  him!"" 

The  “ boss""  mounted  the  ladder.  I was  again  impressed 
by  the  modest,  the  gentle  air  his  handsome  face  wore.  His 
fine  liquid,  dusky  eyes  glittered  as  he  approached,  but  without 
in  the  least  qualifying  his  docile  expression.  He  pulled  off  his 
queer  old  soldier"s  cap,  and  stood  looking  an  instant  earnestly 
from  me  to  Helga  before  fastening  his  dark  but  brilliant  gaze 
upon  the  captain. 

“ What  now,  Nakier?"" 

“ l)ere"s  Goh  Lyn  Koh  says  de  men"s  dinner  to-day  is  allee 
sariKi  as  yesterday,""  said  the  man. 

“ You  mean  pork  and  pea-soup?"" 

“ Ya-as,  sah,""  answered  the  fellow,  nodding  with  an  Eastern 
swiftness  of  gesture. 

“ Just  so.  Pork  and  pea-soup.  You  threw  your  allowance 
overboard  yesterday.  I have  not  ordered  pork  and  pea-soup 
lobe  given  to  you  two  days  running  as  a punishment! — oh, 
'lour,  no!""  he  went  on,  with  a greasy  chuckle  coming  out,  as 
it  were,  from  the  heart  of  his  roll  of  chins.  “ What!  punish 
a crew  by  giving  tluun  i)l(mty  to  cat?  No,  no;  I simply  in- 


:^ri  DAKiSH  sweetheart.  S25 

tend  that  you  and  the  rest  of  you  shall  know  that  I am  captain 
of  this  ship,  and  that  I must  have  my  way!^^ 

“ Dat  is  proper,^^  exclaimed  Nakier.  “ No  man  ever  say 
no  to  dat.  But  we  no  eat  pork.  We  sooner  eat  dirt.  We 
will  not  eat  pea-soup — it  is  gravy  of  pork.  We  sooner  drink 
tar/^ 

“ Can  you  conceive  such  bigotry,  such  superstition,  in  men 
who  are  really,  Miss  Nielsen,  not  totally  wanting  in  brains?^' 
exclaimed  the  captain,  turning  to  Helga. 

She  looked  away  from  him. 

“ Nakier,^^  he  continued,  “you  know,  my  good  fellow, 
there  must  be  a beginning.  Have  you  ever  tasted  pork?^^ 

“ No,  sah;  it  is  against  my  religion cried  the  man,  vehe- 
mently. 

“Your  religion!’^  exclaimed  the  captain.  “Alas,  poor 
man!  it  is  not  religion,  it  is  superstition  of  the  most  deplorable 
kind!  and,  since  every  captain  stands  as  father  to  his  crew,  it 
is  my  duty,  as  your  father  for  the  time,  to  endeavor  to  win 
you,  my  children  for  the  time,  to  a knowledge  of  the  truth  !^^ 
He  glanced  askew  at  Helga,  and  proceeded:  “ You  will  begin 
by  eating  each  of  you  a mouthful  of  pork.  I do  not  expect 
much — just  one  mouthful  apiece  to  begin  with.  You  may 
then  follow  on  with  a meal  of  salt  beef.  The  first  step  is 
everything.  My  idea  is  to  deal  with  one  superstition  at  a time. 
Why  should  pork  be  unfit  for  you?  It  is  good  for  this  lady; 
it  is  good  for  me;  for  this  gentleman;  for  Wise  there.  Are 
we  inferior  to  you,  Nakier,  that  we  should  be  willing  to  eat 
what  you  and  my  poor  dark  crew — dark  in  mind  as  in  skin — 
profess  to  disdain?^  ^ 

“ We  can  not  eat  pork,^^  said  the  man. 

“ Oh,  I think  so.  You  will  try?^^ 

“ No,  sah,  no!^^ 

There  was  a sharp,  wild  gleam  in  his  eyes  as  he  pronounced 
these  words,  a look  that  desperately  contradicted  his  face,  and 
his  gaze  at  the  captain  was  now  a steadfast  stare.  "" 

“ 1 desire,^’  continued  the  captain,  very  blandly,  “ to  get 
rid  of  your  deplorable  prejudices  as  1 would  extinguish  a side 
of  bacon — rasher  by  rasher.  This  he  said  with  another  leer 
at  Helga.  “ 1 have  some  knowledge  of  your  faith.  You  need 
but  make  up  your  mind  to  know  that  what  1 do  I do  in  the 
highest  interests  of  my  crew,  and  then  1 shall  have  every  hope 
of  getting  you  to  listen  to  me,  and  of  transforming  you  all  int© 
thoughtful  Christian  men  before  we  reach  Cape  Town.^' 

“ You  will  give  us  beef  to-day,  sah?^^ 

8 


226 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ I think  not,  and  if  you  throw  your  allowance  overboard 
you  shall  have  pork  again  to-morrow/^ 

“ We  did  not  sign  your  articles  for  dis/^  said  the  man,  who 
spoke  English  with  a good  accent. 

“ The  articles  provide  for  certain  food,^^  answered  the  cap- 
tain, “ and  that  food  is  served  out  to  you  in  very  good  meas- 
ure. You  will  try~you  will  try  to  eat  this  pork,  and  when  I 
learn  that  you  have  every  one  of  you  swallowed  one  mouthful, 
you  will  find  me  indulgent  in  other  directions,  and  ready  to 
proceed  on  the  only  course  which  can  result  in  your  salvation. 

“ You  will  not  give  us  beef  to-day,  sah?”  said  the  man, 
shaking  his  head. 

“Yes,  but  I must  learn  first  that  you  have  eaten  of  the 
pork.  I will  not  insist  upon  the  soup,  but  the  pork  you  must 
eat!^^ 

“ No,  sah!^^ 

“ You  can  go  forward 

“ We  signed  for  meat,  sah:  we  can  not  work  on  biscuit!^^ 

“ Meat  you  have,  and  excellent  meat  too!  It  is  my  business 
to  make  Christians  of  you.  This  little  struggle  is  natural. 
You  can  go  forward,  I say!^^ 

Helga,  catching  her  breath  as  though  to  a sudden  hysteric 
constriction  of  the  throat,  cried  out: 

“ Captain,  do  not  starve  these  men!  Give  them  the  food 
their  religion  permits  them  to  eat!’^ 

He  looked  at  her  for  a moment  or  two  in  silence.  It  was 
hard  to  guess  at  his  mind  under  that  fixedly  smiling  counte- 
nance, but  it  seemed  to  me  as  though  in  those  few  moments  of 
pause  there  was  happening  a really  bitter  conflict  of  thought 
in  him. 

“ I know  my  duty!^^  he  exclaimed.  “ I know  what  my  re- 
sponsibilities are  here,  what  is  expected  of  me!^^  He  reflected 
again.  “ I shall  have  to  render  an  account  for  my  conduct, 
and  human  weakness  is  not  forgiven  in  those  who  know  what 
is  right,  and  who  are  in  a position  to  maintain,  enforce,  and 
confirm  the  right.  He  paused  again,  then  saying  softly  to 
Helga,  “ For  your  sake!^^  he  turned  to  Nakier.  “ This  lady 
wishes  that  the  crew  shall  have  the  food  their  black  and  wicked 
superstitions  suffer  them  to  eat.  Be  it  so — for  ^to-day.  Let 
the  cook  go  to  Mr.  Joneses  cabin  for  the  key  of  the  harness- 
cask.^^ 

Without  a word,  the  man  rounded  upon  his  heel  and  went 
forward. 

The  captain  gazed  at  Helga  while  he  pensively  pulled  his 
whiskers. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


227 


‘‘  It  is  just  possible,^^  said  he,  ‘‘  that  you  may  not  be  very 
intimately  acquainted  with  the  character  of  the  religion  I am 
endeavoring  to  correct  in  those  poor  dark  fellow-creatures  of 
mine.’^ 

“ 1 dare  say  they  are  very  happy  in  their  belief/^  she  an- 
swered. 

“ Ay,  and  the  drunkard  is  happy  in  his  bottle,  and  the  pick- 
pocket when  his  hand  is  in  the  stranger ^s  fob;  but  it  is  a sort 
of  happiness  the  honest  part  of  the  world  are  incessantly  strug- 
gling to  cure.  Let  me  give  you  two  examples  of  the  credulity 
of  our  friends  yonder,^^  bending  his  head  sideways  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  forecastle.  Nakier  will  tell  you,  and  will 
solemnly  swear  to  the  truth  of  what  he  tells,  that  Mohammed 
was  conveyed  on  a mysterious  animal  from  Mecca  to  Jerusa- 
lem, whence  he  ascended  the  seven  heavens,  conversed  with 
patriarchs  and  angels,  then  descended  to  Jerusalem  and  re- 
turned to  Mecca — all  in  the  tenth  part  of  a night.  Nakier 
and  his  mates  there  believe  that.  They  will  also  swear  tha,t 
the  moon,  at  Mohammed^s  command,  performed  seven  revo- 
lutions round  the  temple  of  Mecca,  saluted  the  Prophet  in  the 
Arabic  language,  entered  at  the  collar  of  his  shirt,  and  issued 
forth  through  his  sleeve.  What  say  you  to  that.  Miss  Nielsen? 
And  a third:  that  the  Prophet  saw  angels  in  heaven  whose 
heads  were  so  large  that  it  would  take  a bird  a thousand  years 
to  fly  from  one  ear  to  the  other.  What  say  you  to  that?^^  he 
repeated,  smiling. 

“ They  are  to  be  thought  of  as  fairy-tales,^^  said  I.  ‘‘  We 
tell  fairy-tales  to  children,  and  they  believe  them.  Those  men 
there  are  children  in  their  way,  too.  They  will  not  be  pun- 
ished hereafter,  1 dare  say,  for  being  born  credulous. 

“Besides/^  exclaimed  Helga,  with  a defiant  gleam  in  her 
eye  as  she  looked  at  the  captain,  who  are  we,  to  sit  in  judg- 
ment on  one  another?  Let  every  man  see  to  himself 

He  arched  his  eyebrows  and  spread  his  waistcoat,  and  had 
fetched  a deep  breath  preparatory  to  delivering  one  of  his 
fathoms  of  tedious  commonplace;  but  his  eye  v/as  at  that  in- 
stant taken  by  the  clock  under  the  skylight. 

“ Ha!^^  he  cried,  “ I must  fetch  my  sextant,  it  is  drawing 
on  to  noon.  I will  bring  you  an  instrument.  Miss  Nielsen:  we 
will  shoot  the  sun  together. 

“No,  if  you  please,  she  exclaimed. 

He  entreated  a little,  but  her  “ no  was  so  resolutely  pro- 
nounced that,  contenting  himself  with  a bland  flourish  of  his 
hand,  he  went  below. 

“What  is  to  be  done,  Hugh?”  whispered  Helga.  “ We 


m 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


shall  not  be  able  to  induce  him  to  land  us  at  Santa  Cruz.  I« 
he  mad,  do  you  think?^’ 

“ No  more  than  I am,^^  said  1.  “ One  vocation  is  not 

enough  for  the  fellow.  There  are  others  like  him  in  mv  coun- 
try of  Great  Britain.  What  a sea  captain,  to  be  sure!  How 
well  he  talks — I mean  for  a sea  captain!  He  has  a good  com- 
mand of  words.  I wager  he  has  made  more  than  one  rafter 
echo  in  his  day.  And  he  is  sincere,  too.  1 saw  the  struggle 
in  him  when  you  asked  that  the  men  should  have  their  bit  of 
beef.  Yet  if  they  donT  cut  his  throat — 

“ How  am  I to  make  him  understand,  said  she,  “ that 
nothing  can  follow  his  keeping  us  here?^^ 

“ At  all  events,  I exclaimed,  “ we  can  do  nothing  until  wo 
sight  a ship  heading  for  home.^^ 

“ That  is  true/^  she  answered. 

“We  came  aboard  yesterday, I continued,  “since  when 
nothing  has  been  sighted,  therefore,  be  the  disposition  of  the 
man  what  it  will,  he  could  not  down  to  this  moment  have  put 
us  in  the  way  of  getting  home.  But  here  he  comes. 

He  rose  through  the  companion-hatch,  with  a sextant  in  his 
hand,  and,  stepping  over  to  the  weather  side  of  the  deck,  fell 
to  ogling  the  sun  that  flamed  over  the  weather-bow. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

WE  ARE  SPOKEN. 

On  the  afternoon  of  this  same  day  of  Tuesday,  October  Slst, 
Helga  having  gone  to  her  cabin,  I stepped  on  deck  to  smoke 
a pipe — for  my  pipe  was  in  my  pocket  when  1 ran  to  the  life- 
boat, and  Captain  Bunting  had  given  me  a square  of  tobacco 
to  cut  up. 

We  had  dined  at  one.  During  the  course  of  the  meal  Helga 
and  I had  said  but  very  little,  willing  that  the  captain  should 
have  the  labor  of  talking.  Nor  did  he  spare  us.  His  tongue, 
as  sailors  say,  seemed  to  have  been  slung  in  the  middle,  and  it 
wagged  at  both  ends.  His  chatter  was  an  infinite  variety  of 
nothing;  but  he  spoke  with  singular  enjoyment  of  the  sound 
of  his  own  voice,  with  a ceaseless  reference,  besides,  in  his 
manner  to  Helga,  whom  he  continued  silently  and  self-com- 
placently  to  regard  in  a way  that  rendered  her  constantly  un- 
easy, and  kept  her  downward-looking  and  silent. 

But  nothing  more  at  that  table  was  said  about  our  leaving 
his  sliip.  Indeed,  both  Helga  and  1 had  agreed  to  drop  the 
subject  until  an  opportunity  for  our  transierence  should  ar- 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAET. 

rive.  We  might,  at  all  events,  be  very  certain  that  he  would 
not  set  us  ashore  in  the  Canary  Islands;  nor  did  1 consider  it 
politic  to  press  him  to  land  us  there,  for  waiving  all  considera- 
tion of  other  reasons  which  might  induce  him  to  detain  us,  it 
would  have  been  unreasonable  to  entreat  him  to  go  out  of  his 
course  to  oblige  us,  who  were  without  the  means  to  repay  him 
for  his  trouble  and  for  loss  of  time. 

He  withdrew  to  his  cabin,  after  dinner.  Helga  and  I sat 
over  his  draught  board  for  half  an  hour;  she  then  went  below, 
and  I,  as  I have  already  said,  on  deck,  to  smoke  a pipe. 

The  wind  had  freshened  since  noon,  and  was  now  blowing  a 
brisk  and  sparkling  breeze  out  of  something  to  the  northward 
of  east;  sail  had  been  heaped  upon  the  bark,  and  when  I 
gained  the  deck  I found  her  swarming  through  it  under  over- 
hanging wings  of  studding-sail,  a b^road  wake  of  frost-like 
foam  stretching  behind,  and  manj/^  flying-fish  sparkling  out  of 
the  blue  curl  from  the  vesseFs  cutwater  ere  the  polished  round 
of  brine  flashed  into  foam  abreast  of  the  fore-rigging.  Mr. 
Jones  stumped  the  deck,  having  relieved  Abraham  at  noon. 
The  fierce-faced,  lemon-colored  creature  with  whithered  brow 
and  fiery  glances  grasped  the  wheel.  As  1 crouched  under  the 
lee  of  the  companion-hatch  to  light  my  pipe,  I curiously  and 
intently  inspected  him;  strangely  enough  finding  no  hi nderance 
of  embarrassment  from  his  staring  at  me  too;  which,  I take  it, 
was  owing  to  his  exceeding  ugliness,  so  that  I looked  at  him  as 
at  something  out  of  nature,  whose  sensibilities  were  not  of  a 
human  sort  to  grieve  me  with  a fancy  of  vexing  them. 

“ Well,  Mr.  Jones,^^said  I,  crossing  the  deck  and  accosting 
the  shabby  figure  of  the  mate  as  he  slouched  from  one  end  to 
another  in  shambling  slippers  and  in  a cap  with  a broken  peak, 
under  which  his  thimble-shaped  nose  glowed  in  the  middle  of 
his  pale  face  like — to  match  the  poor  creature  with  an  elegant 
simile — the  heart  of  a daisy,  this  is  a very  good  wind  for  you, 
but  bad  for  me,  seeing  how  the  ship  heads.  I want  to  get 
home,  Mr.  Jonar.  I have  now  been  absent  for  nearly  eleven 
days,  though  my  start  was  but  for  an  hour  or  two’s  cruise.” 

“ There’s  no  man  at  sea,”  said  he,  “ but  wants  to  get  home, 
unless  he’s  got  no  home  to  go  to.  That’s  my  case.” 

“ Where  do  you  hail  from,  Mr.  Jones?” 

“ Whitechapel,”  he  answered,  when  I’m  ashore.  I live 
in  a big  house;  they  call  it  the  Sailor’s  Home.  There  are  no 
wives  to  be  found  there,  so  that  the  good  of  it  is  to  make  a 
man  glad  to  ship.  ” 

“ The  sea  is  a hard  life,”  said  I,  “ and  a very  great  deal 
harder  than  it  need  be — so  Nakier  and  his  men  think,  I war- 


230 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


ranfc  you.  A little  too  much  pork,  I fear,  goes  to  the  making 
of  the  captain^s  religious  ideas/’- 

“ The  pork  in  this  ship,^"  said  he,  “ is  better  than  the  beef; 
and  what  is  good  enough  for  English  sailors  is  good  enough 
for  dirt-colored  scaramouches.^^ 

“Ay!  but  the  poor  fellows^  religion  is  opposed  to  pork.^’ 

“ Don’t  you  let  them  make  you  believe  it,  sir,”  he  exclaimed. 
“ Religion!  You  should  hear  them  swear  in  English!  They 
want  a grievance.  That’s  the  nature  of  everything  afore  the 
mast,  no  matter  what  be  the  color  of  the  hide  it’s  wrapped  up 
in.  ” 

“ What  sort  of  sailors  are  they?” 

“ Oh,  they  tumble  about;  they’re  monkeys  aloft;  they’re 
willing  enough;  I’m  bound  to  say  that.” 

1 could  instinctively  guess  that  whatever  opinions  I might 
oflFer  on  the  captain’s  treatment  of  his  crew  would  find  no 
echo  in  him.  Poverty  must  make  such  a man  the  creature 
of  any  ship-master  he  sailed  with. 

“ Have  you  received  orders  from  Captain  Bunting,”  I 
asked,  “ to  signal  and  bring  to  any  homeward-bound  ship 
that  may  come  along?” 

“Ko,  sir.” 

“ We  wish  to  be  transshiped,  you  know,  Mr.  Jones.  We 
should  be  sorry  to  lose  the  opportunity  of  a homeward-bounder 
through  the  captain  omitting  to  give  you  orders,  and  through 
his  being  below  and  asleep,  perhaps,  at  the  time.” 

“ \ can  do  nothing  without  his  instructions,  sir,”  he  ex- 
claimed, with  a singular  look  that  rose  to  the  significance  of  a 
half  smile. 

“ All  right!”  I said,  perceiving  that  his  little  light-blue  eyes 
had  witnessed  more  than  I should  have  deemed  them  capable 
of  observing  in  the  slender  opportunities  he  had  had  for  employ- 
ing them. 

The  wind  blew  the  fire  out  of  my  pipe,  and  to  save  the  to- 
bacco I went  down  to  the  quarter-deck  for  the  shelter  of  the 
bulwarks  there.  While  I puffed  I spied  Jacob  down  in  the  lee 
fore-rigging  repairing  or  replacing  some  chafing-gear  upon 
the  swifter-shroud.  1 had  not  exchanged  a word  with  this 
honest  boatman  since  the  previous  day,  and  strolled  forward  to 
under  the  lee  of  tlie  galley  to  greet  him.  I asked  him  if  he  was 
comfortable  in  his  new  berth,  lie  answered  yes;  he  was  very  well 
satislied;  tlio  captain  liad  given  orders  that  he  was  to  have  a 
glass  of  grog  every  day  at  noon;  the  provisions  were  also  very 
good,  and  tliere  was  no  stint. 

“ ’Soides,”  ho  called  down  to  mo,  with  his  fat,  ruddy  face 


231 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 

framed  in  the  squares  of  the  ratlines^  “ three  pound  a month^s 
good  money.  There’ll  be  something  to  take  up  when  I gets 
home,  something  that’ll  loighten  the  loss  o’  my  eight  pound  o’ 
goods  and  clothes,  and  make  the  foundering  of  the  ‘ Airly 
Marn  ’ easier  to  think  of.” 

“ You  and  Abraham,  then,  have  regularly  entered  yourselves 
for  the  round  voyage.^” 

“ Ay;  the  cap’n  put  us  on  the  articles  this  afternoon.  He 
called  us  to  his  cabin  and  talked  like  a gemman  to  us.  ’Tain’t 
often  as  one  meets  the  likes  of  him  at  sea.  No  language — a 
koind  smile— a thaiik’ye  for  whatever  a man  does,  if  so  be  as 
T’s  rightly  done — a feeling  consarn  for  your  morals  and  your 
comforts:  tell  ’ee,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  the  loikes  of  Cap’n  Buntin’ 
iun’t  to  be  fallen  in  with  every  day — leastways,  in  vessels 
arter  this  here  pattern,  where  mostly  a man’s  a dog  in  the 
oap’n’s  opinion,  and  where  the  mate’s  got  no  other  argument 
than  the  fust  iron  belaying-pin  he  can  whip  out.” 

‘‘  1 am  very  glad  to  learn  that  you  are  so  well  satisfied,” 
^aid  I.  “A  pity  poor  Thomas  isn’t  with  you.  He  would 
be  as  satisfied,  1 dare  say,  as  you  are  with  what  has  fallen 
out.” 

“ Pore  Tommy!  There’s  nothen  in  my  toime  as  has  made 
me  feel  so  ordinary  as  Thomas’s  drownding.  But  as  to  him 
making  hisself  happy  here — ” 

“ I beg  your  pardon,  sah,”  said  a voice  close  beside  me. 

I turned,  losing  the  remainder  of  Jacob’s  observations,  and 
perceived  the  face  of  Nakier  in  the  galley  door,  that  was  within 
an  arm’s-length  of  me  from  where  I leaned.  His  posture  was 
one  of  hiding,  as  though  to  conceal  himself  from  the  sight  of 
the  poop.  As  I looked,  a copper-colored  face  with  black, 
angry  eyes  flashing  under  a low  forehead  as  wrinkled  as  the 
rind  of  an  old  apple,  with  the  temper  that  worked  in  the  creat- 
ure, showed  behind  Nakier’s  head,  and  vanished  in  a breath. 
I now  recollected  that  when  I had  first  taken  up  my  station 
under  the  lee  of  the  galley  I had  caught  the  hiss  of  a swift, 
fiery  whispering  within  the  little  structure,  but  it  had  instantly 
ceased  on  my  calling  to  Jacob,  and  the  matter  went  out  of  my 
head  as  1 listened  to  the  boatman  in  the  rigging.  ' 

“ I beg  your  pardon,  sah!  May  I speakee  a word  with  you?” 

“ What  is  it,  Nakier?”  1 exclaimed,  finding  a sort  of  pleasure 
in  the  mere  contemplation  of  his  handsome  face  and  noble 
liquid  Eastern  eyes,  dark  and  luminous  like  the  gleam  you 
will  sometimes  observe  in  the  midnight  sea. 

“ Are  you  a sailor,  sah?” 

I am  not,”  1 responded. 


232 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ Can  you  tellee  me  cle  law  of  ships?^’ 

Here  the  copper-colored  face  came  out  again,  and  now  hung 
steady  with  its  frown  over  Nakier's  shoulder;  but  both  fel- 
lows kept  all  but  their  heads  hidden. 

“ I know  what  you  mean/^  I answered.  “ I fear  I can  not 
counsel  you.^^ 

“ Our  captain  must  have  us  starve/^  said  he;  “ he  give  us 
meat  we  must  not  eat,  and  on  dose  days  we  have  only  bread 
and  water.  Dat  is  not  right?’^ 

“No,  indeed,^^  ^aid  I;  “and  how  little  we  think  it  right 
you  may  know  by  what  the  lady  said  to-day.’^ 

“Ah!  she  is  good,  she  is  good!^^  he  exclaimed,  always 
speaking  very  softly,  and  clasping  his  long  thin  fingers  with 
filbert-shaped  nails  while  he  upturned  his  wonderful  eyes. 
“ We  are  not  of  de  captain^s  religion — he  sabbee  dat  when  we 
ship.  Is  dere  law  among  Englishman  to  ponish  him  for 
trying  to  make  us  eat  what  is  forbidden?’^ 

“ I wish  I knew — I wish  I could  advise  you,’^  said  I,  some- 
what secretly  relieved  by  hearing  this  man  talk  of  law;  for  when 
I had  watched  him  that  morning  on  the  poop  I would  have 
sworn  that  his  and  his  mates^  whole  theory  of  justice  lay  in 
the  blades  which  rested  upon  sheaths  strapped  to  their  hips. 
“One  thing  you  may  be  sure  of,  Nakier,  Captain  Bunting 
has  no  right  to  force  food  upon  you  that  is  forbidden  to  you 
by  your  religion.  There  must  be  lawyers  in  Cape  Town  who 
will  tell  you  how  to  deal  with  this  matter  if  it  is  to  be  dealt 
with.  Meanwhile,  try  to  think  of  your  captain  in  this  business 
as — I significantly  tapped  my  forehead.  “ That  will  help 
you  to  patience,  and  the  passage  to  the  Cape  is  not  a long 
one.^^ 

The  copper-colored  face  behind  Nakier  violently  wagged, 
the  frown  deepened,  and  the  little,  dangerous  eyes  grew,  if 
possible,  more  menacing  in  their  expression. 

“ He  is  a cruel  man,^^  said  Nakier,  with  a sigh  as  plaintive 
as  one  could  irnaigne  in  any  lovesick  Eastern  maid;  “ but  we 
will  be  patient;  and,  sah,  I t^ank  you  for  listening. 

The  copper-colored  face  disappeared. 

“ You  are  no  sailor,  sah!^^  continued  Nakier,  smiling,  and 
showing  as  pearl-white  a set  of  teeth  as  were  ever  disclosed  by 
tlie  fairest  woman’s  parted  lips;  “ and  yet  you  have  been 
shipwreck?” 

1 brielly  related  my  life-boat  adventure,  and  in  a few  words 
conij)leted  the  narrative  of  the  raft  and  of  our  deliverance  by 
the  luggei.  Indeed,  it  pleased  me  to  talk  with  him:  liis  ac- 
cent, his  looks,  were  a sort  of  realization,  in  their  way,  of  early 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


233 


boyish  dreams  of  travel;  they  carried  me  in  fancy  to  the  prov- 
inces of  the  sun;  I tasted  the  ripe  aromatic  odors  of  tropic 
vegetation,  there  seemed  a scent  of  the  hubble-bubble  in  the 
blue  and  sparkling  breeze  gushing  fair  over  the  rail.  He  be- 
got in  me  a score  of  old  yearning  imaginations — of  the  elephant 
richly  castellated,  of  the  gloom  of  palatial  structures  dedicated 
to  idols,  their  domes  starry  with  incrustation  of  gems  and  the 
precious  ores. 

The  brief  spell  was  broken  by  Jacobis  gruff  ^longshore  voice: 

“It  don^t  look,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  as  if  you  and  the  lady 
was  to  git  home  as  fast  as  ye  want  to. 

“ No,^^  I replied.  “ Do  you  see  anything  in  sight  up  there, 
Jacob?^^ 

He  spat,  and  looked  leisurely  ahead. 

“ Not  hen,  sir."^^ 

“ I beg  pardon,  sah!^^  broke  in  Nakier^s  voice.  “ Do  you 
sabbee  nabigation?^^ 

“ I do  not,^"'  I answered,  struck  with  a question  that  recalled 
Punmeamootty^s  inquiries  that  morning. 

“ But  Mr.  Vise,^^  he  continued,  “ he  sabbee  nabigation?^^ 

I shook  my  head  with  a slight  smile. 

“ He  has  some  trifling  knowledge,^’  said  I.  “ Fortunately, 
there  is  no  occasion  to  trust  to  his  skill. 

“ De  sweet  young  lady  sabbee  nabigation,  sah?^^ 

“ I will  not  answer  for  it!^^  I exclaimed,  looking  at  him.  A 
sudden  fancy  in  me  may  have  been  disclosed  by  my  eyes.  His 
gaze  fell,  and  he  drew  in  his  head.  Just  then  I caught  sight 
of  Helga  at  the  break  o£  the  poop  to  leeward,  looking  along 
the  decks.  She  saw  me,  and  beckoned.  As  I knocked  the 
ashes  out  of  my  pipe,  Jacob  cried  out:  “ Blowed  if  I don’t 
believe  that^s  a steamer ^s  smoke  ahead. Ha!  thought  I, 
Helga  has  seen  it,  and  I at  once  made  for  the  poop-ladder. 

It  was  as  I had  supposed.  She  had  seen  the  smoke  when  she 
came  on  deck,  and  instantly  looked  about  for  me.  It  was  the 
merest  fllm,  the  faintest  streak,  dim  as  a filament  of  spider’s 
web;  but  it  was  directly  ahead,  and  it  was  easy  to  guess  that 
unless  the  steamer  was  heading  east  or  west  she  must  be  com- 
ing our  way,  for  assuredly,  though  the  “Light  of  the 
World  was  sweeping  through  it  at  some  six  or  seven  knots, 
we  were  not  going  to  overhaul  a steamer  at  that  pace. 

A telescope  lay  in  brackets  inside  the  companion-way;  1 
fetched  and  leveled  it,  but  there  was  nothing  more  to  be  seen 
than  the  soaring  of  the  thin  blue  vein  of  smoke  from  behind 
the  edge  of  the  sea,  where  the  dark,  rich  central  blue  of  it 
went  lightening  out  into  a tint  of  opal.  It  did  not  take  long. 


234 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


however,  to  discover  by  the  hanging  of  the  smoke  in  the  same 
place  that  the  steamer  was  heading  directly  for  us.  I put  down 
the  glass,  and  said  to  Mr.  Jones; 

“ Will  you  be  so  good  as  to  call  the  captain  and  tell  him 
that  there  is  a steamer  in  sight,  coming  this  way?^^ 

“ 1 have  no  orders  to  call  the  captain  merely  to  report  a 
ship  in  sight,  sir,^^  he  answered. 

“ That  may  be,^^  said  I;  “ but  here  is  a chance  for  us  to 
leave  this  vessel,  and  the  captain  might  not  thank  you  to  kec]) 
him  ignorant  of  the  opportunity.^^ 

“ 1 can’t  help  it,  sir.  My  duty  here  is  to  obey  orders,  and 
to  do  what’s  expected  of  me,  and  no  more,”  and  so  saying  ho 
marched  shambling  aft;  yet  1 will  not  say  that  his  manner  of 
leaving  me  was  abrupt  or  offensive. 

There  is  no  time  to  be  lost,  Helga,”  said  1.  “ If  that 

steamer  is  doing  ten  and  we  are  doing  six  the  joint  speed  is 
sixteen  knots,  and  she  will  be  abreast  of  us  and  away  again 
quickly.  I will  report  to  the  captain  myself;”  with  which  I 
went  on  to  the  quarter-deck  and  passed  into  the  cabin  and 
knocked  on  the  door  of  Captain  Bunting’s  berth. 

He  immediately  cried;  “ Who’s  there?” 

Mr.  Tregarthen,”  I answered. 

“ Are  you  alone?”  he  called. 

I told  him  I was. 

‘‘  Then  pray  walk  in,”  said  he. 

1 opened  the  door  and  found  him  lying  in  his  bunk  in  his 
shirt-sleeves.  Full  as  I was  of  the  business  of  the  steamer 
heaving  into  view,  I could  yet  manage  to  notice,  now  that  he 
was  under  no  particular  obligation  to  smile,  that  his  habitual 
grin  when  his  face  was  off  duty,  so  to  speak,  was  of  the  kind 
that  is  called  sardonic.  It  was  the  set  of  his  mouth  with  the 
thick  curve  of  its  upper  lip  that  made  the  smile;  but  his  eyes 
bore  not  the  least  part  in  this  expression  of  mirth.  It  was  a 
mere  stroke  of  nature  in  him,  however,  and,  though  the  con- 
genital grin  did  not  increase  his  beauty,  it  left  untouched  in 
his  countenance  the  old  character  of  blandness,  self-complac- 
ency, and  an  air  of  kindness  too. 

‘‘  What  can  I do  for  you,  Mr.  Tregarthen?”  said  he, 
promptly  sitting  up  in  his  bunk,  with  a glance  around  for  his 
coat 

“ I must  ask  your  pardon  for  intruding  upon  you,”  said  I; 
“ there  is  a steamer’s  smoke  in  sight  over  the  bows;  Mr,  Jones 
declined  to  report  her  to  you.  I venture  to  do  so,  and  I have 
also  to  ask  you.  Captain  Bunting,  to  signal  her  to  stop  that 
ebe  may  receive  Miss  IJielseu  and  me.” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


235 


1 shall  be  very  willing  to  transfer  you,  Mr.  Tregarthen,^’ 
^id  he,  without  more  or  less  significance  in  his  manner  than 
was  usual  in  it;  “ but  you  must  not,  you  really  must  not,  ask 
me  to  part  in  this  sort  of  hurry  with  your  sweet,  engaging 
companion./^ 

certainly  shall  not  leave  you  without  her,^^  said  I, 
breathing  quickly. 

“Just  so,^^  he  exclaimed,  ‘‘nor  is  it  my  wish  that  you 
should.  I want  you  to  convert  your  experience  of  shipwreck 
into  a little  holiday  cruise.  1 hope  you  are  comfortable  with 
jne?^^ 

“ Perfectly  comfortable;  but  all  the  same.  Miss  Nielsen  and 
I desire  to  return  to  England,  and  I must  entreat — indeed. 
Captain  Bunting,  I must  insist  upon  you  signaling  the  steamer 
that  is  rapidly  approaching  us.^^ 

He  opened  his  eyes  wide  at  the  word  insist,  which  I deplored 
having  made  use  of  at  the  moment  it  had  escaped  me;  but  he 
continued  very  bland,  and  his  smile  being  now  vitalized,  as 
when  he  was  at  the  table  or  on  deck  with  us,  had  lost  what  I 
had  found  sardonic  in  it. 

“ A captain’s  powers,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  are  considerable,” 
he  exclaimed.  “He  is  first  onboard  his  own  ship;  his  will 
is  the  law  that  governs  the  vessel;  no  man  aboard  but  he  can 
msist  for  an  instant.  But  my  desire  is  for  cordial  feelings 
between  us.  Let  us  be  friends  and  talk  as  friends.  Pray  bear 
with  me.  You  are  in  possession  of  my  hopes.  Do  not  add 
fears  to  them  by  your  behavior.” 

He  dropped  his  head  on  one  side,  and  surveyed  me  with  an 
eye  that  seemed  almost  wistful.  I believed  that  he  meant  to 
keep  me  talking  till  the  steamer  had  passed. 

“ Captain  Bunting,”  said  I,  “ I am  as  fully  disposed  as  you 
are  to  be  friendly;  but  I must  tell  you  that,  if  you  decline  to 
transfer  us — if,  in  other  words,  you  force  us  to  proceed  on  this 
voyage,  you  will  be  acting  at  your  peril.  I shall  exact  repara- 
tion, and  whatever  the  law  can  do  for  me  shall  be  done. 
Practically  you  will  be  abducting  Miss  Nielsen,  and  that,  you 
must  know,  is  a highly  punishable  offense.” 

He  motioned  with  both  his  hands. 

“ It  is  no  abduction,”  said  he.  “ When  you  rescue  a young 
iady  with  your  life-boat  from  a foundering  craft  you  do  not 
abduct  her.  1 can  understand  your  impatience,  and  forgive 
your  irritability.  Yet  I had  thought  to  have  some  claim  upon 
you  for  a more  generous,  fora  handsomer  interpretation  of  my 
wishes.  What  is  the  reason  of  this  extreme  hurry  in  you  to 
return  home?” 


MY  DANISH  SWEtlTHiJART. 


236 

You  surely  do  not  require  me  to  repeat  my  answer  to  that 
questioli!^^  J exclaimed,  curbing  my  temper  with  an  effort. 

“ To  be  sure.  You  are  concerned  for  your  poor  dear  mother. 
Come,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  suppose  we  send  news  of  your  safety 
by  this  steamer  you  have  reported  His  face  beamed.  “ Let 
me  see— your  home  is — your  home  is — he  scratched  his 
head.  I viewed  him  without  speaking.  Ah,  1 have  it — Tin- 
trenale  He  spelled  it  twice  or  thrice.  ‘ ‘ Hugh  Tregarthen, 
Tintrenale.  Come,  the  steamer  shall  report  your  safety,  and 
then  your  mind  will  be  at  ease.^^ 

1 am  to  understand  that  you  refuse  to  transfer  us.  Captain 
B unting 

“ Nay;  never  interpret  the  mind  of  another  harshly.  You 
know  my  wishes:  every  hour  renders  them  dearer  and  dearer  to 
me.^^ 

Under  all  this  blandness  I could  now  perceive  a spirit  of 
resolution  that  was  clearly  no  more  to  be  influenced  by  me 
than  his  ship^s  side  was  to  be  kicked  out  by  a blow  of  my 
foot.  1 turned  to  leave  the  cabin. 

‘‘  If  you  are  going  on  deck,  will  you  have  the  kindness  to 
send  Mr.  Jones  to  me?^^  said  he. 

I pulled  the  door  to,  and  regained  the  poop. 

“ The  captain  wants  you,^^  I called  to  Mr.  Jones,  who  im- 
mediately left  the  deck.  Helga  came  to  me. 

“ He  refuses  to  transship  us/^  said  I. 

“ He  dare  not!’^  she  cried,  turning  pale. 

“ The  creature,  all  smiles  and  blandness,  says  no,  with  as 
steady  a thrust  of  his  meaning  as  though  it  were  a boarding- 
pike.  We  have  to  determine  either  to  jump  overboard  or  to 
remain  with  him.^^ 

She  clasped  her  hands.  Her  courage  seemed  to  fail  her; 
her  eyes  shone  brilliant  with  the  alarm  that  filled  her. 

Can  nothing  be  done?  Is  it  possible  that  we  are  so  entirely 
in  his  power?  Could  we  not  call  upon  the  crew  to  help  us?^^ 
A sob  arrested  her  broken  exclamations. 

I stood  looking  at  the  approaching  steamer,  struggling  with 
my  mind  for  some  idea  to  make  known  our  situation  to  her  as 
she  passed,  but  to  no  purpose.  Why,  though  she  should 
thrash  through  it  within  earshot  of  us,  what  meaning  could  I 
hope  to  convey  in  the  brief  cry  I might  have  time  to  deliver? 
I can  not  express  the  rage,  the  bitterness,  the  mortification,  the 
sense,  too,  of  the  startling  absurdity  of  our  position,  which 
fumed  in  my  brains,  as  1 stood  silently  gazing  at  the  steamer, 
with  Helga  at  my  side,  wirite,  straining  her  eyes  at  me,  swiftly 
breathing,  with  a sob  now  again  in  her  throat. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


237 


In  the  short  time  during  which  I had  been  below^  the  ap- 
proaching vessel  had  shaped  herself  upon  the  sea,  and  was  grow- 
ing large  with  a rapidity  that  expressed  her  an  ocean  mail-boat. 
Already,  with  the  naked  sight,  I could  catch  the  glint  of  the 
sun  upon  the  gilt  device  at  her  stem-head,  and  sharp  flashes  of 
the  reflection  of  light  in  some  many-windowed  deck  structure 
broke  from  her,  end-on  as  she  was,  to  her  slow,  stately  sway- 
ing, as  though  she  were  firing  guns. 

The  captain  remained  below.  A few  minutes  after  Mr. 
Jones  had  gone  to  him,  he— that  is,  the  mate — came  on  to 
the  poop  bearing  a great  blackboard,  which  he  rested  upon  the 
deck. 

“ Captain  Bunting^s  compliments,  Mr.  Tregarthen,^^  said 
he,  and  he^ll  be  glad  to  know  if  this  message  is  satisfactory 
to  you?^^ 

Upon  the  board  was  written,  in  chalk,  in  very  visible,  de- 
cipherable characters,  like  the  letters  of  print,  the  following 
words: 

HUGH  TREGARTHEN,  OF  TINTRENALE, 

BLOWN  OUT  OF  BAY  NIGHT  OCTOBER  31ST, 

IS  SAFE 

ON  BOARD  THIS  SHIP,  “LIGHT  OF  THE  WORLD. 

BUNTING,  MASTER,  TO  CAPE  TOWN. 

PLEASE  REPORT. 

“ That  will  do,^^  said  I,  coldly,  and  resumed  my  place  at  the 
rail. 

Helga  said,  in  a low  voice:  “ What  is  the  object  of  that 
board?’^ 

“ They  will  read  the  writing  aboard  the  steamer, I an- 
swered, “ make  a note  of  it,  report  it,  and  my  mother  will  get 
to  hear  of  it  and  know  that  I am  alive. 

“ But  how  will  she  get  to  hear  of  it?^^ 

“ Oh,  the  message  is  certain  to  find  its  way  into  the  ship- 
ping papers,  and  there  will  be  twenty  people  at  Tintrenale  to 
hear  of  it  and  repeat  it  to  her.^^ 

“ It  is  a good  idea,  Hugh,^^  said  she.  “It  is  a message  to 
rest  her  poor  heart.  It  may  reach  her,  too,  as  quickly  as  you 
yourself  could  if  we  went  on  board  that  steamer.  It  was  clever 
of  you  to  think  of  it.^^ 

“ It  was  the  captain’s  suggestion,”  I exclaimed. 

“ Hugh,  it  is  a good  idea!”  she  repeated,  with  something  of 
life  coming  into  her  blanched,  dismayed  face;  “you  will  feel 
a little  happier.  I shall  feel  happier  too.  I have  grieved  to 


238 


MY  DANISH  SWEETITEART. 


think  your  mother  may  suppose  you  drowned.  Now,  in  a 
few  days  she  will  know  that  you  are  well.^^ 

“ Yes,  it  is  a good  idea,^^  said  1,  with  my  eyes  gloomily 
fastened  upon  the  steamer;  but  is  it  not  monstrous  that  wo 
should  be  imprisoned  in  this  fashion?  That  fellow  below  has 
no  right  to  detain  us.  If  it  should  cost  me  five  years  of  my 
income,  I’ll  punish  him.  It  is  his  admiration  for  you  that 
makes  him  reckless — but  what  does  the  rascal  hope?  Ho 
talked  of  his  willingness  to  transfer  me,  providing  you  re- 
mained.’^ 

“Oh,  but  you  would  not  leave  me  with  him,  Hugh!”  she 
cried,  grasping  my  arm. 

“ Leave  you,  Helga!  No,  indeed.  But  I made  one  great 
blunder  in  my  chat  with  him  this  morning.  He  asked  me  if 
there  was  anything  between  us — meaning  were  we  sweethearts, 
and  I said  no.  I should  have  answered  yes;  I should  have 
told  him  we  were  betrothed;  then  perhaps  he  would  have 
been  willing  to  let  us  leave  him.  ” 

She  returned  no  answer.  I looked  at  her,  and  saw  an  ex- 
pression in  her  face  that  told  me  I had  said  too  much.  The 
corners  of  her  little  mouth  twitched,  she  slightly  glanced  at 
me  and  tried  to  smile  on  observing  that  I was  regarding  her, 
then  made  a step  from  my  side  as  though  to  get  a better  view 
of  the  steamer. 

“ She’s  a fine  big  ship,”  exclaimed  Mr.  Jones,  who  had 
quietly  drawn  close  to  me;  “ a Cape  boat.  In  six  days’  time 
she’ll  be  snug  in  dock.  When  I was  first  going  to  sea  I 
laughed  at  steam.  Now,  I should  be  glad  if  there  was  nothing 
else  afloat.” 

My  impulse  was  to  draw  away,  but  my  temper  had  some- 
what cooled,  and  was  now  allowing  me  the  exertion  of  my 
common-sense  again.  If  I was  to  be  kept  aboard  the  ship, 
it  could  serve  no  sort  of  end  to  make  an  enemy  of  Mr.  Jones. 

“ Yes,”  said  I,  “ she  is  coming  along  in  fine  style — a mail- 
steamer  apparently.  Why  will  not  the  captain  signal  her? 
Surely  she  would  receive  us!” 

“Not  a doubt  of  it,”  he  answered,  almost  maliciously; 
“ but  the  captain  knows  his  own  business,  sir.” 

“ Where’s  your  flag-locker?”  cried  I.  “ Show  it  me,  and 
I’ll  accept  the  responsibility  of  hoisting  the  ensign  half-mast 
high!” 

“ Not  without  the  captain’s  orders,  Mr.  Tregarthen,”  said 
ho. 

“ The  captain!”  I exclaimed  “ IIo  has  nothing  to  do  with 
me.  He’s  your  master,  not  mine!” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


230 


Helga  softly  called  to  me.  I went  to  her. 

“ Do  not  reason  with  him,  Hugh!^^  she  whispered.  “ Let 
the  people  in  that  steamer  read  the  message,  and  we  can  afford 
to  be  patient — lor  a little/^  she  added. 

“ For  a little  1 rejoined.  “ But  how  long  will  that  little 
make?  Is  it  to  stretch  from  here  to  Table  Bay?^’^ 

But  by  this  time  the  steamer  was  on  the  lee  bow,  and,  when 
abreast,  would  be  within  a few  cables^  length  of  us.  I thought 
to  myself.  Shall  1 spring  upon  the  rail  and  hail  her  in  G^^s 
name,  wave  my  hands  to  her  to  stop,  and  take  my  chance  of 
her  people  hearing  the  few  words  I should  have  time  to  bawl? 
Then,  with  the  velocity  of  thought,  I reflected  that  the  mate 
would  be  certain  to  hinder  any  such  attempt  on  my  part,  to 
the  length,  I dare  say,  of  laying  hands  upon  me  and  pulling 
me  off  the  rail,  so  that  I might  subject  myself  to  what  would 
prove  but  little  short  of  an  outrage,  while  I should  likewise 
forfeit  the  opportunity  of  getting  the  message  delivered;  for 
there  was  no  man  on  the  poop  to  hold  up  the  board  but  the 
mate,  and  if  the  mate  was  busy  with  me  the  board  must  remain 
hidden. 

All  this  1 thought,  and  while  I thought  the  steamer  was 
sweeping  past  us  at  a speed  of  some  thirteen  knots,  with  Mr. 
Jones  standing  something  forward  of  the  mizzen-rigging  hold- 
ing up  the  board  at  arm^s-length. 

Th(3  picture  of  that  rushing  metal  fabric  was  full  of  glitter- 
ing beauty.  Her  tall  promenade-deck,  draped  with  white 
awnings,  out  of  which  the  black  column  of  her  funnel  forked 
leaning,  was  crowded  with  passengers,  male  and  female. 
Dresses  of  white,  pink,  green — the  ladies  of  South  Africa,  I 
believe,  go  very  radiantly  clad — fluttered  and  rippled  to  the 
sweep  of  the  strong  breeze  raised  by  the  steamer^s  progress. 
Those  who  walked  came  to  a stand  to  survey  us,  and  a dozen 
binocular  glasses  were  pointed.  High  above,  on  the  white 
canvas  bridge,  the  mate  in  charge  of  the  ship  was  reading  the 
handwriting  on  the  black-board  through  a telescope  that 
flashed  like  silver  in  his  hands.  Beside  him,  twinkling  in 
buttons  and  lace,  stood  the  commander  of  the  steamer,  as  I 
might  suppose.  The  sun  was  in  the  south-west  sky;  his  red- 
dening brilliance  beat  full  upon  the  ship  that  was  thundering 
by  faster  than  a hurricane  could  have  blown  the  “ Light  of 
the  World  along;  and  the  glass  in  her  line  of  port-holes 
seemed  to  stream  in  fire  as  though  the  tall  black  iron  sides 
were  veritably  belted  with  flame.  There  were  stars  of  gold 
in  her  bright  yellow  masts  and  a writhing  of  glowing  light  all 
about  the  gilt  work  with  which  her  quarters  were  glorified. 


240 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


She  rolled  softly,  aud  every  inclination  was  like  the  twist  of  a 
kaleidoscope  for  tints.  How  mean  did  the  little  bark  look 
at  that  instant!  how  squalid  her  poor  old  stumpy  decks  with 
their  embellishment  of  rude  scuttle-butt,  of  grimy  caboose,  of 
squab  long-boat,  not  to  mention  the  choice  humanities  of  her 
forecastle,  the  copper-colored  scarecrows  who  had  dropped  the 
various  jobs  they  were  upon  to  stare  with  their  sloe-like  eyes 
at  the  passing  show! 

She  had  not  swept  past  abreast  by  more  than  her  own  length 
when  the  twinkling  commander  on  the  bridge  flourished  his 
arm. 

“ And  about  time,  too!^^  cried  Mr.  Jones,  lowering  the 
board  and  leaning  it  against  the  rail.  “ They  must  be  poor 
hands  at  spelling  aboard  that  ship  to  keep  me  holding  up 
that  board  as  if  I were  a topsail-yard  proper  to  set  a whole 
sail  upon!’^ 

“ Have  they  read  the  message,  do  you  think,  Mr.  Jones?^^ 
cried  Helga. 

“ Oh,  yes,  yes,  miss,^^  he  answered. 

He  ran  in  an  awkward  sprawl  to  the  skylight,  where  the 
telescope  lay,  pointed  it,  and  exclaimed,  “ See  for  yourself, 
miss!^^ 

She  leveled  the  glass  with  the  ease  and  precision  of  an  old 
sailor. 

Yes,  Hugh,^^  she  called  to  me,  while  she  held  the  tele- 
scope to  her  eye;  the  man  in  the  jacket  and  buttons  is  writ- 
ing in  what  looks  to  be  a pocket-book;  the  other  bends  over 
him  as  though  to  see  that  the  words  are  correct.  I am  satis- 
fied!^^ and,  putting  the  glass  down,  she  returned  to  me. 

The  steamer  was  now  astern  of  us,  showing  but  little  more 
than  the  breadth  of  her,  rapidly  growing  toyJike  as  she  swept 
onward,  with  an  oil-smooth  wake  spreading  fan-shaped  from 
hor  counter,  and  the  white  foam  curving  with  the  dazzle  of 
sifted  snow  from  either  side  the  iron  tooth  of  her  shearing  stem. 
:vly  heart  ached  with  the  yearning  for  home  as  1 followed  her. 
At  that  moment  eight  bells  were  struck  forward,  and  almost 
immediately  Abraham  came  aft  to  relieve  Mr,  Jones,  who, 
after  saying  a word  or  two  to  the  boatman,  picked  up  the 
board  and  went  below. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

I MAKE  FREE. 

“ There^s  ahopportunity  lost,  Mr.  Tregarthen,^^  exclaimed 
Abraham,  looking  at  the  reccdii]g  steamer;  “ not  that  me  and 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


241 


Jacob  ain’t  satisfied,  but  there’s  ne’er  a doubt  that  wessel  ’ud 
ha’  taken  you  and  the  lady,  if  so  be  as  Capt’n  Bunting  had 
arsted  her.” 

We  are  kept  here  against  our  will,”  said  I.  ‘‘  What  the 
man  means  to  do  I don’t  know,  but  what  he  can  do  I now  see. 
Unless  I can  get  those  black  fellows  to  back  the  topsail  and 
put  us  aboard  the  next  ship  when  she  comes  along,  here  we 
must  stop  until  it  is  the  captain’s  pleasure  to  release  us.  ” 

“ But  what  does  he  want  along  of  ye?”  inquired  Abraham, 
in  a low,  hoarse  voice,  with  a glance  at  the  open  skylight. 

1 looked  at  Helga,  and  then  said  bluntly — for  I had  some 
dim  hope  of  this  boatman  and  his  mate  being  able  to  help  us^ 
and  the  plain  truth  must  therefore  be  given  to  them : 

“ The  long  and  short  of  it  is,  Abraham,  the  captain  greatly 
admires  Miss  Nielsen — he  has  fallen  in  love  with  her,  in  short 
— and  so  you  have  it.” 

Helga  looked  and  listened  without  any  air  of  embarrassment, 
as  though  the  reference  were  of  general  instead  of  individual 
interest. 

“ But  he  hain’t  fallen  in  love  with  you,  sir?  Why  do  he 
want  to  keep  ye  both,  then?  Couldn’t  he  have  sent  you 
aboard?” 

“ You  astonish  me!”  1 cried.  “Do  you  suppose  I would 
leave  this  lady  alone  in  the  vessel?” 

“ Why,  p’r’aps  not,”  he  answered;  “ but  still,  ’tain’t  as  if 
you  was  a lady,  one  of  her  own  sex,  as  was  hacting  companion 
to  her.  Oi  don’t  mean  to  say  that  one  man’s  as  good  as  an- 
other; but  I don’t  see  no  call  for  you  to  keep  all  on  in  this 
here  wessel.” 

“ What  am  I to  understand  you  to  mean?”  cried  I.  “ That 
Miss  Nielsen  is  to  be  left  without  a protector  in  the  company 
^f  a fellow  like  Captain  Bunting?” 

“But  if  he’s  willing  to  be  her  protector,  sir,  ain’t  it  all 
fight?”  he  inquired. 

“ Has  not  your  head  been  turned?”  said  Hegla,  warmly, 
with  a fiushed  face. 

He  looked  stupidly  from  one  to  the  other  of  us  with  a slow 
gaze  and  a mind  laboring  to  master  the  difficulty  he  could  not 
understand. 

“ Sorry  if  I’ve  said  anything  to  offend  ye,  miss,”  said  he; 
“ this  here  capt’n’s  an  honorable  man,  Oi  allow,  and  he’s  evi- 
dently on  the  lookout  for  a wife.  All  I says  is,  what’s  the 
good  of  his  keeping  Mr.  Tregarthen  away  from  his  home  when 
he’s  willing  to  take  his  place?” 

“ But  he  must  not  take  his  place!”  exclaimed  Helga,  with 


243 


AIT  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


glovring  eyes,  in  which  1 looked  to  see  a tear  presently.  “ 1 
would  drown  myself  if  I were  to  be  left  here  alone 

A slow  smile  animated  the  leathern  countenance  of  Abra- 
ham. 

“ Then,  mum,  asking  your  pardon,  all  Oi  can  say  is,  Mr. 
Tregarbheii  should  ha^  put  it  differently.  Where  there ^s  wan 
ihere^s  no  call  for  tew,  and  there  being  wan  already,  then,  of 
course,  it^s  the  capt^n^s  duty  to  send  ye  both  home  as  soon  as 
he  can. 

“ If  Captain  Bunting  persists,^^  said  I,  not  choosing  to  fol- 
low the  line  of  Abraham^s  reasoning,  “ what  is  my  remedy? 
You  Deal  boatmen  have  the  reputation  of  knowing  the  law 
pretty  well.  First,  has  he  the  right  to  carry  us  with  him 
against  our  wishes?’^ 

“ There^s  never  much  question  of  right  along  with  sea  cap- 
tains,^^  he  answered.  My  ^sperienceis  that  what  the  master 
of  a wessel  chooses  to  do  he  will  do,  and  the  rights  of  it  some- 
how seem  to  come  out  of  his  doing  of  it.^^ 

But  have  we  no  remedy said  1. 

“ Ask  yourself  the  question he  answered.  “ Where's  the 
remedy  to  be  found and  here  he  sent  his  eyes  roarnin^^  over 
the  sea  and  up  aloft  and  along  the  decks.  ' 

“ Of  all  Jobe's  comforters!”  I exclaimed. 

“ If  I was  you,”  he  continued,  apparently  not  understand- 
ing my  remark,  and  sending  another  cautious  look  at  the  open 
skylight,  with  a further  subduing  of  his  voice,  what  OiM  do 
is  this:  Oi’d  just  enjoy  myself  at  this  ^ere  gemman^s  expemae, 
eat  his  wittles  and  drink  his  rum — and  I^m  bound  to  say  this, 
that  a better  drop  o^  rum  than  he  keeps  in  that  there  locker 
of  his  isn^t  to  be  met  with  afloat  or  ashore — I say,  Oi^d  drink 
and  eat  at  his  expense,  and  keep  my  spirits  as  joyful  as  sar- 
cumstances  might  permit,  but  taking  care  to  let  him  know 
every  day,  ay,  and  ph'^aps  twice  a day— say  at  breakfast  and  at 
supper — that  the  lady  and  me  wants  to  get  home;  and  thi^ 
Oi’d  dew  till  we  got  to  port,  and  then  Oi^d  bring  an  actioft 
agin  him  and  sail  home  on  the  damages,  with  a few  pound  to 
the  good.” 

He  had  barely  ceased  when  he  turned  sharply  round  and 
marched  aft,  and  as  he  did  so  the  captain  mounted  the  poop- 
ladder,  exclaiming: 

“ What  very  enjoyable  weather,  to  be  sure!  Mr.  Jones  in- 
forms me  that  the  message  was  duly  noted.  Now,  Miss  Niel- 
reii,  wo  may  take  it  that  our  fiiend  Mr,  Tregarthen’s  mind  is 
perfecjtly  at  ease.  ” 

It  was  four  o^clock  when  the  steamer  passed,  and  half  an 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


m 


hour  later  she  was  out  of  sight,  so  rapid  was  the  combined 
pace  of  the  vessels.  Her  name  was  large  upon  her  stern  had 
we  chosen  to  read  it,  but  the  mate  was  too  busy  with  his  board 
and  I with  my  temper  to  note  the  letters,  and  Helga  did  not 
think  of  doing  so,  and  thus  it  was  that  the  steamer  passed 
away  and  none  of  us  knew  more  about  her  than  that  she  was 
a Cape  Union  mail-liner  bound  to  England  with  now  a mes- 
sage, meant  for  my  mother,  on  board. 

The  captain  hung  about  us,  and  was  all  blandness,  courtesy, 
and  admiration  when  he  addressed  Helga  or  directed  his  eyes 
at  her.  On  his  first  joining  us  she  said  quickly,  pointing  to  the 
steamer  that  was  still  in  sight: 

“ Why  have  you  suffered  us  to  lose  that  opportunity?^^ 

“Mr.  Tregarthen^s  and  your  company,^^  he  answered, 
“ makes  me  so  happy  that  I can  not  bear  to  part  with  you 
yet!"’ 

Her  little  nostrils  enlarged,  her  blue  eyes  glittered,  her  breast 
quickly  rose  and  fell. 

“You  called  yourself  a Samaritan  yesterday!""  she  ex- 
claimed, with  all  the  scorn  her  tender  soul  was  capable  of  and 
her  pensive,  pretty  face  could  express.  “ Is  this  the  way  in 
which  Samaritans  usually  behave?"" 

He  viewed  her  as  though  she  were  a picture  that  can  not  be 
held  in  a new  position  without  disclosing  a fresh  grace. 

“ You  are  too  good  and  kind  to  be  cruel,""  said  he,  regard- 
ing her  with  deej)ening  admiration,  as  it  seemed  to  me.  “ The 
Samaritan  played  his  part  fairly  well  yesterday,  I believe."" 
He  blandly  bowed  to  her  with  a countenance  of  exquisite  self- 
complacency.  “ He  is  still  on  board,  my  dear  young  lady, 
with  a character  in  essentials  unchanged,  merely  enlarged."" 
Here  he  spread  his  fingers  upon  his  breast,  and  expanded  his 
waistcoat,  looking  at  her  in  a very  knowing  sort  of  way,  with 
his  head  on  one  side.  “ Now  that  we  have  sent  our  message 
home,  there  is  no  hurry.  Our  little  cruise,""  he  exclaimed, 
pointing  over  the  bow,  “ is  almost  entirely  tropical,  and  there 
is  no  reason  at  all  why  we  should  not  find  it  delightful!"" 

I caught  Helga"s  eye,  and  exhorted  her  by  a glance  to  keep 
silent.  She  fixed  her  gaze  upon  the  deck,  with  a lip  lightly 
curled  by  disgust,  and  I stepped  aft  under  a pretense  to  look 
at  the  compass,  with  so  much  more  contempt  and  anger  than 
I could  hold  between  my  teeth  that  I dared  not  speak  for 
fear  I should  say  a very  great  deal  too  much. 

The  breeze  slackened  as  the  sun  sunk,  and  at  supper,  as  the 
captain  persisted  in  calling  the  last  meal,  the  ocean  fell  calm 
and  the  old  broad-bowed  bark  rolled  sleepily,  but  with  much 


344 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


creaking  of  her  rheumatic  bones,  upon  a long-drawn  polished 
swell  flowing  out  of  the  north-east.  Her  canvas  beat  the 
masts  and  fetched  reports  out  of  the  tall  spars  that  penetrated 
the  little  cuddy  like  discharges  of  musketry. 

For  a long  while  the  captain  gave  Helga  and  me  no  oppor- 
tunity for  a quiet  talk.  At  table  he  was  more  effusive  than  he 
had  yet  been,  distressingly  importunate  in  his  attentions  to  the 
girl,  to  whom  he  would  address  himself  in  tones  of  lover-like 
coaxing  if  she  happened  to  say  no  to  his  entreaties  to  her  to 
drink  a little  wine,  to  try  a slice  of  ham,  and  the  like.  He 
begged  that  we  should  both  make  ourselves  thoroughly  at 
home;  his  colored  cook,  he  said,  was  not  a first-rate  hand,  but 
if  Miss  Helga  ever  had  a fancy  she  need  but  name  it  and  it 
would  go  very  hard  with  the  cook  if  he  failed  to  humor  her. 

‘‘  We  are  not  a yacht,^^  said  he,  pulling  a whisker  and  look- 
ing around,  ‘‘but,  mOst  fortunately,  gaudy  mirrors  and  hand- 
some carpets  and  the  ginger -bread  ornamentations  of  the 
pleasure  craft  need  never  form  any  portion  of  human  happiness 
at  sea.  The  sun  looks  as  brightly  down  upon  “ The  Light  of 
the  World  as  upon  the  most  stately  ship  afloat,  the  ocean 
breeze  will  taste  as  sweetly  over  my  bulwark  rails  as  on  the 
bridge  of  the  gallantest  man-of-war  that  flies  the  crimson 
cross;’^  and  thus  he  went  on  vaporing  as  usual  in  fathoms  of 
commonplace,  yet  with  a bland  underlying  insistence  always 
upon  our  being  his  guests,  upon  our  remaining  with  him  and 
being  happy,  as  though,  indeed,  we  had  cheerfully  consented 
to  stop,  and  were  looking  forward  with  great  enjoyment  to  the 
voyage. 

I was  as  cold  and  distant  as  I could  well  be,  answered  him  in 
monosyllables,  eat  as  if  with  aversion  from  the  food  before  me, 
which,  nevertheless,  I constrained  myself  to  devour  merely  to 
keep  body  and  soul  together.  But  he  did  not  seem  to  heed  my 
manner  in  the  least;  I could  swear,  indeed,  that  he  did  not 
observe  it.  He  was  wholly  engrossed  in  contemplation  of 
Helga,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  enlarging  his  waistcoat,  and 
delivering  more  or  less  through  his  nose,  with  a fixed  smile  and 
somewhat  leering  eye,  the  dull,  trivial,  insipid  contents  of  his 
mind. 

He  asked  the  girl  to  play  draughts  with  him  when  Pun- 
meamootty  had  cleared  the  table.  On  her  declining,  he  fetched 
from  his  cabin  the  volume  of  Jeremy  Taylor— it  was  that  di- 
viners “ Holy  liiving  and  Dying, I think — and  asked  permis- 
sion to  read  a few  pages  aloud.  IShe  could  not  refuse,  and  1 
see  that  exi  raonlinary  ship-rnasLer  now,  standing  under  the 
lamp,  holding  the  portly  volume  up  with  both  hands,  smiling 


SWElTfiEART.  ^45 

upon  the  page,  pausing  at  intervals  to  look  over  the  top  of  the 
book  at  the  girl  with  a nod  to  serve  as  a point  of  admiration, 
and  reading  nasally  in  a voice  without  the  faintest  inflection, 
so  that  at  a little  distance  his  delivery  must  have  sounded  like 
a continuous  groan.  He  then  begged  her  to  read  to  him. 

“ What  greater  treat  could  we  have,^^  said  he,  looking  at 
me,  “ than  to  hear  the  rich,  noble,  impressive  words  of  this 
great  bishop  pronounced  by  the  charming  lips  of  Miss  Helga 
Nielsen?’^ 

But  she  curtly  refused;  and,  after  hovering  about  her  for 
another  half  hour,  during  which  I would  notice  a growing  air 
in  him  that  was  a distinct  intimation,  in  its  way,  of  his  entire 
satisfaction  at  the  progress  he  was  making,  he  withdrew  to  his 
cabin. 

Helga  looked  at  me  with  weariness  and  dismay,  and  moist- 
ened her  lips. 

“ This  is  worse  than  the  raft,^^  said  I. 

‘‘  It  is  so  bad,^^  she  exclaimed,  “ that  I feel  persuaded  it 
can  not  last. 

“ Let  us  go  on  deck.  If  we  linger  here  he  may  rejoin 
us.  How  tragical  it  all  is  one  may  know  by  the  humor  of  it.^^ 

We  went  softly  to  the  companion  steps,  and  I recollect  that 
I looked  over  my  shoulder  to  see  if  he  was  following  us — than 
which  I can  recall  no  better  proof  of  my  perfect  recognition 
of  our  helplessness. 

The  new  moon  had  followed  the  sun,  and  the  planet  would 
not  be  showing  by  night  for  two  or  three  days;  but  in  the 
south,  and  over  our  mastheads,  the  sky  was  richly  spangled 
with  stars,  which  burned  in  one  or  two  dyes  of  glory,  and 
very  sharply,  whence,  from  recollection  of  a like  sight  at 
home,  I supposed  that  hard  weather  was  at  hand.  There  was 
some  little  lightning,  of  a delicate  shade  of  violet,  in  the 
north-east,  which,  indeed,  would  have  been  no  noticeable  thing 
down  in  this  part  of  the  world  but  for  the  mountainous  heap- 
ing of  cloud  it  revealed,  a black  sullen  mass  stretching  along 
the  sea-line  in  that  quarter,  and  putting  a hue  as  of  ink  into 
the  dusk  which  swept  in  glittering  obscurity  to  the  shadow  of 
it.  There  was  a great  deal  of  greenish  fire  in  the  sea,  and  it 
broadened  and  shrunk  in  wide  spaces  in  the  lift  of  the  noise- 
less running  swell  as  though  the  ways  of  a tinted  lantern  were 
cast  upon  the  water.  The  dew  was  plentiful,  and  lay  along 
the  rails  and  upon  the  skylight,  crisp  as  frost  in  the  starshine. 

It  was  Abraham^s  watch,  and  I spied  his  figure  flitting  ciim- 
brously  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  wheel,  at  which  stood  the 
shape  of  some  colored  man,  motionless  as  though  carved  in 


UQ 


ilT  DANISH  SWEETHKAOT, 


ebony,  faintly  touched  by  the  sheen  of  the  binnacle  lamp.  I 
was  inino  humor  to  converse  with  the  boatman.  His  stupid 
talk  that  afternoon  in  response  to  my  questions  had  vexed  me, 
and  J was  still  angry  with  the  fool,  as  I chose  to  think  him, 
spite  of  the  claims  he  had  upon  my  kindness  and  gratitude. 

I put  Helga’s  hand  under  my  arm,  and  wo  quietly  patroled 
the  deck  to  leeward.  Our  conversation  wholly  concerned  our 
position — it  would  only  tease  you  to  repeat  it.  There  was 
nothing  to  suggest,  no  plan  to  propose;  for  think,  advise, 
scheme  as  we  might,  it  could  only  come  to  this:  that  if  the 
captain  declined  to  part  with  us,  then,  unless  the  men  took 
our  side  and  insisted  on  putting  us  aboard  a passing  ship,  wo 
must  stop.  But  if  the  crew  took  our  side,  it  would  be  mutiny 
with  them;  and  bewilderingly  disagreeable  as  our  situation  was, 
preposterously  and  ridiculously  wretched  as  it  was,  yet  assuredly 
it  was  not  to  be  mended  by  a revolt  among  those  dusky-skins 
forward. 

Yet  the  fancy  of  stirring  up  the  Malays  to  befriend  us  was 
in  my  mind  as  I walked  with  the  girl. 

“ God  forbid,^^  said  I,  “ that  I should  have  a hand  in  it; 
yet,  for  all  that,  I believe  it  is  to  be  done.  I had  a short  talk 
with  Nakier  to-day,  and  there  was  that  in  his  questions  and 
his  manner  which  persuades  me  that  the  train  is  ready,  and 
nothing  wanting  but  the  spark. 

A mutiny  is  a terrible  thing  at  sea,^^  said  she;  “ and  what 
would  men  like  the  crew  of  this  ship  stop  at?^^ 

Ay,  nothing  more  terrible,  Helga.  But  are  we  to  be  car- 
ried to  the  Cape?^^ 

“ The  captain  has  no  intention  of  putting  into  Santa  Oruz,^^ 
said  she. 

“ That  we  may  be  sure  of.  But  does  the  fellow  intend  that 
you  shall  pass  week  after  week  with  no  other  apparel  than 
what  you  stand  up  in?^^ 

I was  interrupted  by  Abraham  sending  a hurricane  shout 
into  the  blackness  forward  for  some  hands  to  clew  up  the  fore 
and  main-royals,  and  for  others  to  lay  aft  and  haul  down  the 
gaff -topsail. 

“ It^s  a-going  to  blow  to-night,  Mr.  Tregarthen,^^  he  called 
across  to  me. 

“ Yes;  and  you  may  see  where  it  is  coming  from,  too,^^  I 
replied,  not  knowing  till  then  that  he  had  observed  us. 

In  a few  moments  the  silence  that  had  hung  upon  the  ves- 
sel, with  notliing  to  disturb  it  but  an  occasional  sob  of  water 
and  the  beating  of  canvas  hollowing  into  the  masts  to  the  roll 


i DANISH  SW  i.xi.irfEARl.  347 

of  the  fabric,  was  broken  by  the  strange  howling  noises  raised 
by  the  colored  seamen  as  they  hauled  upon  the  gear. 

“ Get  them  sails  furled,  my  ladsT^  bawled  Abraham;  ‘‘  and 
the  rest  of  ye  lay  aft  and  take  this  ^ere  mizzen  olf  her.^^ 

“ It  is  wonderful  that  the  fellows  should  understand  the 
man,^^  said  L 

“ There^sthe  captain!^^  exclaimed  Helga,  instantly  halting, 
and  then  recoiling  in  a way  that  dragged  me  a pace  back  with 
her. 

He  rose  through  the  companion-hatch,  his  outline  vaguely 
visible  in  the  dim  radiance  sifting  through  the  cabin  skylight. 
Abraham  addressed  him. 

‘‘  Quite  right.  Wise,  very  wise  of  you,  AVjise!^^  he  exclaimed. 
“ There  is  a marked  fall  in  the  barometer,  and  I perceive 
lightning  in  the  north-east,  with  a deal  of  rugged  cloud  down 
there.  His  shadowy  form  stepped  to  the  binnacle,  into  which 
he  peered  a moment.  “ 1 think,  Wise,^^  said  he — and,  to  use 
a Paddyism,  1 could  see  the  man’s  fixed  and  singular  smile  in 
the  oiliness  of  his  accents — “ that  you  can  not  do  better  than 
go  forward  and  rouse  up  all  hands.  I can  rely  best  upon  my 
crew  when  the  weather  is  quiet. 

Abraham  trudged  forward,  and  in  a minute  later  I heard 
him  thumping  heavily  on  the  fore-hatch,  topping  the  blows 
with  a boatswain’s  hoarse  roar  of  “ All  hands  shorten  sail!” 

“ The  captain’s  politeness,”  I said,  “ will  end  in  making 
that  Heal  boatman  sit  at  his  feet.” 

“ He  is  afraid  of  his  crew,  perhaps,”  answered  Helga,  “ and 
is  behaving  so  as  to  make  sure  that  the  two  men  will  stand  by 
him  should  difficulties  come.  ” 

“ It  was  a bad  blow  that  sunk  the  fellows’  lugger,  Helga. 
We  might  have  sighted  that  steamer  of  to-day  and  be  now 
homeward  bound  at  the  rate  of  fourteen  knots  an  hour.” 

“And  it  is  all  my  fault!”  she  cried,  in  tones  impassioned 
by  regret  and  temper.  “ But  for  me,  Hugh — ” 

I silenced  her  by  taking  her  hand  as  it  lay  in  my  arm  and 
pressing  it.  She  drew  closer  to  me,  with  a movement  caress- 
ing but  wistful  too,  though  finely  and  tenderly  simple. 

I did  not  doubt  that  the  captain  perceived  us;  nevertheless, 
he  hung  near  the  wheel,  never  coming  further  forward  than 
the  companion-hatch,  while  we  kept  at  the  other  end  of  the 
little  poop,  where  the  shadow  of  the  port-wing  of  mainsail  lay 
heavy. 

Shortly  after  Abraham  had  summoned  the  men,  the  decks 
were  alive  with  sliding  and  gliding  shapes,  and  the  stillness  of 
the  ocean  night  was  clamorous  with  parrot-like  cries.  The 


248 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


lightning  had  ceased,  but  the  darkness  was  fast  deepening,  and 
overhead  the  stars  were  beginning  to  languish  in  the  projected 
dimness  of  the  growing  mass  of  cloud  that,  now  that  there  was 
no  play  of  violet  fire  upon  it,  was  indistinguishable  in  its  own 
dumb,  brooding  obscurity. 

“ VVhatever  is  to  come  will  happen  on  a sudden,  said  1. 

We  neither  of  us  cared  to  keep  the  deck  now  that  the  cap- 
tain had  arrived,  and  descending  the  ladder,  we  entered  th© 
cabin.  Under  other  conditions  1 should  have  been  willing,  and 
indeed  anxious,  to  assist  the  crew,  but  now  I was  resolved  not 
to  touch  a rope,  to  maintain  and  present  as  sullen  a front  as  I 
could  contrive,  to  hold  apart  with  Helga,  to  mark  my  resent- 
ment by  my  behavior,  and  so,  perhaps — but  God  knows  1 had 
no  hope  of  it — to  intimidate  the  fellow  into  releasing  us  by 
obliging  him  to  understand  that  he  had  already  gone  a very 
great  deal  too  far.  There  was  much  noise  on  deck;  Mr.  Jones 
was  bawling  from  the  forecastle,  and  Abraham  from  the  waist, 
and  the  songs  of  the  Malays  might  easily  have  passed  for  the 
cries  of  people  writhing  in  pain.  Apparently  the  captain  was 
alarmed  by  the  indications  of  the  glass  and  the  look  of  the 
weather  in  the  north-east,  and  was  denuding  his  little  ship  as 
speedily  as  might  be.  His  own  voice  began  to  sound  now,  and, 
though  it  was  perfectly  distinguishable,  there  was  nothing 
nasal,  bland,  or  greasy  about  it.  On  the  contrary,  his  roars 
seemed  to  proceed  from  a pair  of  honest  sea-lungs,  as  though 
what  was  nautical  in  him  had  been  worked  up  by  the  appear- 
ance of  the  weather,  and  was  proving  too  strong  for  the  soapy 
exterior  of  his  habitual  manner. 

“ He  can  be  natural  when  he  forgets  himself,^^  said  I. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  he  swears  at  times,^’  said  Helga. 

One  touch  of  nature  in  the  fellow  would  make  me  feel  al- 
most comfortable,^^  I exclaimed. 

“ He  is  not  a true  sailor:  he  never  could  be  natural  for  any 
length  of  time,^^  said  Helga. 

The  pattering  of  the  naked  feet  of  the  crew  was  like  the 
noise  of  a shower  of  rain.  Helga  seemed  to  be  able  to  follow 
what  was  being  done,  as  though  she  were  on  deck  directiig 
the  crew. 

“ They  have  furled  this  sail — they  are  reefing  that  sail — now 
they  are  hauling  down  such  and  such  a jib — now  they  are 
stowing  the  mainsail, she  would  say,  giving  the  canvas  its 
proper  name,  and  looking  at  me  with  a little  smile  in  her 
liquid-blue  eyes,  as  though  the  interest  in  the  sailors’  work 
made  her  forget  our  troubles. 

“ lie  as  nautical  as  you  like  with  mo/"'  said  L “ 1 love  to 


iAlY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


249 


hear  you  pronounce  the  strange,  uncouth  language  of  the  sea; 
but  guard  your  lips  before  the  captain.  The  more  sailorly  you 
are,  the  more  he  will  admire  you.^^ 

“ What  would  make  him  hate  me?’^  she  exclaimed,  with 
the  light  of  the  smile  going  out  of  her  eyes,  and  her  white  brow 
contracting.  “ How  is  he  to  be  sickened,  Hugh?^^ 

“ Oh!  what  can  you  do,  Helga?  What  can  a pretty  girl  do 
that  will  not  heighten  the  passion  of  a man  who  has  fallen  in  < 
love  with  her?^^  ^ 

“ Call  me  pretty  if  you  will,^^  said  she,  with  a maidenly 
droop  of  her  eyelids,  ‘‘  but  do  not  speak  of  me  as  a girl  with 
whom  anybody  has  fallen  in  love. 

“ By  George said  1,  starting  and  heaving  a long  sigh,  with 
a look  at  the  clock,  the  hands  of  which  were  now  at  nine, 

“ the  road  to  Holding  gets  longer  and  longer.  But  we  shall 
measure  it — we  shall  measure  it  yet,  Helga!^^  I quickly  added, 
heartily  grieved  by  the  sorrow  that  entered  her  face. 

“ What  a strange  dream  has  all  this  time  been!^’  she  half 
murmured,  pressing- her  eyes.  “ My  father  stood  by  my  side 
last  night,  I felt  his  kiss — oh,  Hugh!  it  was  colder  than  the 
salt  water  outside. 

She  uttered  an  exclamation  in  Danish,  with  a little  passion- 
ate shake  of  the  head. 

“ I hope  you  are  quite  comfortable  below,^^  exclaimed  a 
much  too  familiar  voice,  and  looking  up  I spied  the  long  whis- 
kers and  smiling  countenance  of  Captain  Bunting  framed  in 
the  open  casement  of  the  skylight. 

Helga  rallied  as  if  to  a shock,  and  stiffened  into  marble,  mo- 
tionless and  with  a hardening  of  her  countenance  that  I should 
have  thought  impossible  to  the  gentle,  ingenuous  prettiness  of 
her  face. 

“ 1 fear,^^  he  continued,  talking  through  the  skylight,  “ that 
we  are  in  for  some  nasty  weather;  but  my  bark  is  stripped  and 
nearly  ready  for  the  affray.  I am  grieved  not  to  be  able  to 
join  you.  Miss  Nielsen.  It  is  necessary  that  I should  remain 
on  dock.  You  are  partaking  of  no  refreshment.  1 will  send 
Punmeamootty  to  you.  Pray  give  him  your  orders. 

His  whiskers  floated  out  into  the  obscurity  like  two  puffs  of 
smoke,  and  he  called,  but  in  genteel  accents,  for  Helga  was 
now  listening,  and  he  knew  it,  to  Abraham  to  send  Punmea- 
mootty ‘‘  to  wait  upon  his  guests  in  the  cabin.  A momeni 
after  his  whiskers  reappeared. 

“ I have  to  beg,  Miss  Nielsen,  that  you  v/ill  consider  yourself 
mistress  here.  And  before  you  withdraw  to  rest — and,  what- 
ever may  happen,  pray  slumber  securely,  for  I shall  be  watch- 


350 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


ing  the  ship — may  I entreat  you  to  occupy  Mr.  Jones’s  berth, 
which  you  will  find  so  very  much  more  airy  and  comfortable 
than  the  dark,  confined  steerage?” 

“lam  quite  satisfied  with  my  accommodation,  thank  you,” 
she  answered,  without  looking  up. 

He  youthfully  wagged  his  head  in  reproach  of  what  his  man- 
ner seemed  to  consider  no  more  than  an  enchanting  girlish 
capriciousness,  and  adding,  “ Well,  I entreat  you  both  to  make 
yourselves  thoroughly  at  home,”  he  disappeared. 

Punmeamootty  arrived.  He  entered  soundlessly  as  a spirit, 
and  with  the  gliding  movements  that  one  could  imagine  of  a 
phantom.  I said  to  Helga: 

“ Abraham’s  philosophy  shall  be  mine.  My  temper  shall 
not  prevent  me  from  using  our  friend’s  larder.  You  asked 
just  now  what  will  sicken  him.  Let  us  eat  and  drink  him  up! 
Punmeamootty,  when  is  the  gale  going  to  burst?” 

“ It  will  not  be  long,  sah,”  he  answered,  showing  his  teeth. 

“ Put  the  best  supper  you  can  upon  the  table.  Have  you 
nothing  better  than  rum  to  drink?” 

“ Here  is  wine,  sah.” 

“ Yes,  and  very  poor  wine  too.  Have  you  no  brandy?” 

“Yes,  sah,  de  capt’n  hab  some  choice  brandy  for  sickness.” 

“Put  a bottle  of  it  on  the  table,  Punmeamootty,  and  be 
quick,  like  a good  fellow,  as  you  are  to  serve  the  food  before 
this  sweet  little  ship  begins  to  kick  up  her  heels.” 

He  showed  his  teeth  again,  with  a glance  at  the  skylight, 
following  it  on  with  a short-lived  look,  of  deep  interest  at 
Helga,  then  slipped  away. 

With  wonderful  nimbleness  he  had  spread  the  cloth,  and  put 
ham,  salt  beef,  biscuit,  and  such  things  upon  the  table. 

“ Now  draw  that  cork!”  said  1. 

The  pop  of  it  brought  the  whiskers  to  the  open  skylight  as 
if  by  magic. 

“ Quite  right,  quite  right!”  exclaimed  the  captain.  “ I 
hope.  Miss  Helga,  that  this  repast  is  of  your  ordering?  What 
have  you  there,  Punmeamootty?”  he  suddenly  cried,  with  ex- 
citement. “ That  is  brandy,  I believe?” 

“ I ordered  it!”  I called  out  in  a sullen  voice. 

“ You  will  handle  it  tenderly,  if  you  please,”  said  he,  with 
a trifle  of  asperity  in  his  speech.  “ It  is  a fine  cordial  brandy, 
and  I have  but  three  bottles  of  it.” 

I returned  no  answer,  and  he  vanished. 

“ Upon  my  word,  I believe  Abraham  is  right,  after  all!” 
said  I,  with  a laugh.  “ Now,  Helga,  to  punish  him,  if  the 
road  to  his  sensibility  lie  through  hum  and  beef!” 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


251 


She  feigned  to  eat  merely  to  please  me,  as  I could  see. 
Though  I was  not  very  hungry,  I made  a great  business  of 
sharpening  my  knife,  and  fell  to  the  beef  and  bam  with  every 
appearance  of  avidity,  not  doubting  that  we  should  be  furtively 
surveyed  from  time  to  time  by  the  captain,  who  could  peep  at 
us  unseen  without  trouble  as  he  passed  the  skylight,  and  who 
could  very  well  overhear  the  clatter  of  dishes,  the  sharpening 
of  my  knife,  and  my  calls  to  the  steward,  so  silent  did  the 
night  continue,  as  though  there  rested  some  great  hush  of  ex- 
pectancy upon  the  ocean. 

I filled  a bumper  of  brandy  and  water,  and  exclaimed  in  a 
loud  voice: 

“ Kerens  to  our  speedy  release,  Helga!  But  if  that  is  not  to 
happen,  then  here^s  to  the  safest  and  swiftest  passage  this  crazy 
old  bucket  is  capable  of  making!  And  here^s  to  proceedings 
hereafter  to  be  taken 

The  colored  steward  stood  looking  on  with  a grin  of  wonder. 

‘‘  Capital  brandy,  this,  Punmeamootty,^^  I sung  out  in  ac- 
cents that  might  have  been  heard  upon  the  forecastle.  ‘‘  An- 
other drop,  if  you  please!  Thank  you!  I will  help  myself. 

A mere  drop  it  was,  for  I had  had  enough;  but  I took  care 
by  my  posture  to  persuade  an  eye  surveying  me  from  above 
that  I was  not  sparing  the  bottle. 

‘‘You  may  clear  away,  Punmeamootty;  and  if  you  can  find 
a cigar  I shall  feel  obliged  by  your  bringing  it  to  me.^^ 

“ Well,  and  how  are  we  getting  on?^^  exclaimed  the  captain, 
bending  his  head  into  the  skylight. 

“We  have  supped,  thank  yoa/^  I answered,  haughtily  and 
coldly.  “ Punmeamootty,  a cigar,  if  you  please 

The  captain^s  head  vanished. 

“Me  no  sabbee  where  capt^n  hini  keep  his  cigar,^^  said 
Punmeamootty. 

“ Eansack  his  cabin  !^^  said  I,  loudly. 

The  fellow  shook  his  head,  but  there  was  enjoyment  in  his 
grin  with  an  expression  of  elation  in  his  eyes  that  borrowed  a 
quality  of  fierceness  from  the  singularly  keen  gleam  which  ir- 
radiated their  dusky  depths.  I was  about  to  speak,  when  Helga 
raised  her  hand. 

“Hark!^^  she  cried. 

1 bent  my  ear,  and  caught  a sound  resembling  the  low  moan 
of  surf  heard  at  a distance. 

“More  than  a capful  of  wind  goes  to  the  making  of  that 
noise,  said  I. 

A bright  flash  of  lightning  dazzled  upon  the  skylight  and 
eclipsed  the  cabin  lamp  with  its  blinding  bluish  glare.  A small 


252 


MY  DAI^ISH  SWEETHEART. 


shock  of  thunder  followed.  I heard  the  captain  cry  out  an 
order;  the  next  minute  the  skylight  was  hastily  closed  and  a 
tarpaulin  thrown  over  it. 

“ Bring  me  my  oilskins,  Punmeamootty!^^  shouted  the  cap- 
tain down  the  companion-way.  The  man  ran  on  deck  with 
the  things. 

“ Can  that  be  rain?’^  cried  Helga. 

Rain  it  was,  indeed!  a very  avalanche  of  wet  charged  with 
immense  hailstones.  The  roar  of  the  smoking  discharge  upon 
the  planks  was  absolutely  deafening.  It  lasted  about  a couple 
of  minutes,  then  ceased  with  startling  suddenness,  and  you 
heard  nothing  but  the  surf -like  moaning  that  had  now  gath- 
ered a deeper  and  a more  thrilling  note,  mingled  with  the  wild 
sound  of  sobbing  in  the  scuppers  and  a melancholy  hissing  of 
wet  as  the  water  on  the  quarter-deck  splashed  from  side  to  side 
to  the  light  rolling  of  the  bark.  Yet  fully  another  five  min- 
utes passed  in  quiet,  while  the  growling  of  the  thunder  of  the 
still  distant  storm-swept  sea  waxed  fiercer  and  fiercer.  It 
was  as  though  one  stood  at  the  mouth  of  a tunnel  and  listened 
to  the  growing  rattling  and  rumbling  of  a long  train  of  goods 
wagons  approaching  in  tow  of  a panting  locomotive. 

Then  in  a breath  the  wind  smote  the  bark,  and  down  she 
leaned  to  it.  So  amazingly  violent  was  the  angle,  I do  most 
truthfully  believe  that  for  the  space  of  twenty  or  thirty  seconds 
the  bark  lay  completely  on  her  beam  ends,  as  much  so  as  if 
she  were  bilged  high  and  dry  upon  a shoal,  and  there  was  a 
dreadful  noise  of  water  pouring  in  upon  her  deck  from  over  the 
submerged  lee  main-deck  rail. 

Helga  was  to  windward,  and  the  table  supported  her,  but  the 
chair  upon  which  I was  seated  broke  away  with  me,  and  I fell 
sprawling  upon  my  back  amid  a whole  raffle  of  the  contents  of 
the  table,  which  Punmeamootty  had  not  yet  removed.  The 
full  mess  of  it  came  headlong  about  me  with  a mighty  smash; 
the  beef,  the  ham,  the  bottle  of  brandy  now  shivered  into  a 
thousand  pieces,  the  jam-pots,  the  biscuits,  the  knives  and 
forks — all  these  things  I lay  in  the  midst  of,  and  such  was  the 
heel  of  the  deck  that  I could  not  stir  a limb.  Helga  shrieked. 
I cried  out,  ‘‘  lam  not  hurt;  ITl  rise  when  I can.^^  Some  one 
was  hoarsely  bawling  from  the  poop;  but,  whatever  the  mean- 
ing of  the  yell  might  have  been,  it  was  immediately  followed 
by  a loud  report  resembling  the  blast  of  a twenty-four-pounder 
gun.  “ There  goes  a sailT^  I shouted.  The  vessel  found  life 
on  being  relieved  of  the  canvas,  whatever  it  was;  there  was  a 
gradual  recovery  of  her  hull,  and  j)resently  she  was  on  a level 
keel,  driving  smoothly  as  a sleigh  over  a level  plain  of  snow. 


MY  DAmSB.  SWEETHEART. 


255 


but  with  such  an  infernal  bellowing  and  hooting  and  ear-ioierc- 
ing  whistling  of  wind  accompanying  her  that  there  is  nothing 
I can  imagine  to  liken  it  to. 

1 waited  awhile,  and  then,  bidding  Helga  stay  where  she 
was,  went  on  to  the  quarter-deck;  but  all  betwixt  the  rails  was 
of  a pitch  darkness,  with  a sort  of  hoariness  in  the  blackness 
on  either  hand  outside,  rising  from  the  foam,  of  which  the 
ocean  was  now  one  vast  field.  I mounted  the  poop-ladder,  but 
was  blinded  in  a moment  by  the  violence  of  the  wind,  that  was 
full  of  wet,  and  was  glad  to  regain  the  cabin;  for’l  could  be  of 
no  use,  and  there  was  no  question  to  be  asked  nor  answer  to 
be  caught  at  such  a time. 


CHAPTER  XXL 


JOPPA  IS  m EARNEST, 


It  was  about  half  past  nine  when  this  gale  took  us,  but  such 
was  the  force  and  weight  of  it,  so  flattening  and  shearing  was 
its  scythe-like  horizontal  sweep,  that  no  sea  worth  speaking  of 
had  risen  till  ten  o’clock,  and  then,  indeed,  it  was  beginning 
to  run  high.  All  this  while  there  had  been  no  sound  of  hu- 
man voices,  but  at  this  hour  a command  was  delivered  above 
our  heads,  and  going  on  to  the  quarter-deck,  I dimly  discerned 
the  figures  of  men  hauling  upon  the  fore-braces;  but  they 
pulled  dumbly;  no  song  broke  from  them;  they  were  silent 
as  though  in  terror.  A little  later  on  I knew  by  the  motions 
of  the  bark  that  she  had  been  brought  to  the  wind  and  lay  hove 
to. 

That  few  vessels  would  better  know  how  to  plunge  and  roll 
than  this  old  “ Light  of  the  World  ” I might  have  guessed 
from  her  behavior  in  quiet  weather  when  there  was  nothing 
but  a slight  swell  to  lift  her.  But  I never  could  have  con- 
jectured how  truly  prodigious  was  her  skill  in  the  art  of  tum- 
bling. She  soared  and  sunk  as  an  empty  cask  might.  She 
took  every  hollow  with  a shock  that  threatened  to  rend  her 
bones  into  fragments,  as  though  she  had  been  hurled  through 
the  air  from  a mighty  height;  and  when  she  swung  up  an  ac- 
clivity, the  sensation  was  that  of  being  violently  lifted,  as  by  a 
balloon  or  ^by  the  grip  of  an  eagle.  Groans  and  cries  rose 
from  her  interior  as  though  she  had  a thousand  miserable, 
slaves— men,  women,  and  children — locked  up  in 


“ This,*’  said  I to  Helga,  “ is  worse  than  the  ‘ Anine.’  ” 

“ Yet  it  was  blowing  harder  on  that  Saturday  night  than  it 
is  now,”  she  answered,  watching  the  mad  oscillations  of  the 


25i 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


cabin  lamp  with  serene  eyes  and  a mouth  steadfast  in  exprea- 
sion.  “ I have  a greater  dread  of  Captain  Bunting^s  smile/^ 
she  continued,  “ than  of  any  hurricane  that  can  blow  across 
the  ocean/ ^ She  looked  at  the  clock.  “ He  is  certain  to  ar- 
rive shortly.  He  is  sure  to  find  some  excuse  to  torture  me 
with  his  politeness.  He  will  tease  me  to  exchange  my  cabin. 
1 think  I will  go  to  bed,  Hugh.^^ 

There  was  little  temptation  to  remain  up.  I put  my  hand 
under  her  arm  to  steady  the  pair  of  us,  and  we  passed  on  to 
the  quarter-deck,  where  I found  the  hatch  leading  to  our 
sleeping  quarters  shut.  We  lifted  it,  and  looked  into  a black- 
ness profounder  than  that  of  a coal-mine.  On  this  1 roared 
for  Punmeamootty.  I shouted  four  or  five  times  at  the  top  of 
my  lungs,  and  then  some  voice  bawled  from  over  the  rail  of 
the  deck  above,  ‘‘  What^s  wrong  down  there?^^  Who  it  was  1 
could  not  tell;  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  voices  amid  the 
hellish  clamor  of  the  wind  roaring  in  the  rigging  with  the 
sound  of  a tempest-swept  forest.  1 took  no  notice,  and  bawled 
again  for  Punmeamootty,  and,  after  a little,  the  poor  colored 
wretch  came  out  of  the  darkness  into  the  sheen  of  the  cabin- 
light  that  feebly  touched  the  quarter-deck,  crawling  on  his 
hands  and  knees.  He  was  soaked  through,  and,  when  he  stood 
up,  could  scarcely  keep  his  feet.  Indeed,  forward,  the  seas 
were  sweeping  the  decks  in  sheets,  and  each  time  the  vessel 
lifted  her  bows  the  water  came  roaring  in  a fury  of  foam  to 
the  cuddy  front. 

We  were  forced  to  put  the  hatch  on  again  to  keep  the  sea 
out  of  the  ship  till  Punmeamootty  came  staggering  out  of  the 
cuddy  with  a lantern.  Helga  then  dropped  below  with  amaz- 
ing dexterity,  and  I handed  the  light  down  to  her,  requesting 
that  she  would  hang  it  up  and  leave  it  burning,  as  I was  in  no 
mood  to  “turn  in  just  then,  wishing  to  see  more  of  the 
weather  before  resting,  and  to  smoke  a pipe.  1 put  the  hatch 
on  and  re-entered  the  cuddy,  followed  by  Punmeamootty. 

“ You  seem  half  drowned said  I. 

“ A sea  knock  me  down,  sah.  Is  dere  danger,  sah?^^ 

“ 1 hope  not,^^  I answered.  “ Do  you  feel  equal  to  pick- 
ing up  that  mess?^^  and  I pointed  to  the  broken  china  and  bit 
of  beef,  and  so  on. 

He  turned  a terrified  eye  upon  them,  staggering  and  swaying 
wildly,  and  then,  as  though  he  had  not  heard  my  question,  he 
exclaimed,  “We  all  say  dis  storm  comee  tro^  cap/n  being 
wicked  man!  Tankee  de  Lor^  I wo  hab  no  eat  pork!  Tankee 
de  Lor^!  we  hab  no  oat  pork!’^ 

Se  bared  his  gleaming  teeth,  as  though  in  the  anguish  of 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


265 


cold,  and  shook  his  small  clinched  fist  at  the  skylight.  I sat 
down  and  lighted  a pipe,  and,  having  been  somewhat  chilled 
by  waiting  out  in  the  wet  of  the  quarter-deck  for  Punmeamootty 
to  bring  the  lantern,  I slided  and  clawed  my  way  round  to 
Captain  Bunting^s  locker  for  a bottle  of  rum  that  lay  within. 
As  I did  this,  the  companion  door  opened,  and  down  came  the 
skipper.  The  wind  and  the  wet  had  twisted  his  whiskers  into 
lines  like  lengths  of  rope.  I could  have  burst  into  a laugh  at 
the  sight  of  this  singular  face,  framed  in  the  streaming  thatch 
and  flannel  ear-protectors  of  his  souVester.  The  water 
poured  from  his  oil-skins  as  he  came  to  a stand  at  the  end  of 
the  table,  grabbing  it,  and  looking  about  him. 

“ What^s  all  thafe?^^*  cried  he,  pointing  with  a fat  forefinger 
to  the  mess  on  deck.  This  was  addressed  to  Punmeamootty, 
but  I answered,  flinging  the  surliest  note  I could  manage  into 
my  voice,  which  I had  to  raise  into  a shout,  An  accident. 
This  is  a beast  of  a ship,  sir!  No  barge  could  make  worse 
weather  of  a breeze  of  wind.^^ 

1 let  fall  the  lid  of  the  locker,  and  sat  upon  it,  poising  the 
bottle  of  rum,  and  blowing  a great  cloud  with  my  pipe. 

“ Where  is  Miss  Nielsen?’^  he  exclaimed. 

“ Gone  to  bed,^^  I answered.  “ Punmeamootty,  reach  me 
a glass  out  of  that  rack.^^ 

The  man,  in  taking  the  tumbler,  reeled  to  a violent  heel  of 
the  deck,  and  let  it  fall. 

“ D— -n  it,’^  roared  the  captain,  you  clumsy  son  of  a hog! 
What  more  damage  is  to  bedone?^^  His  sudden  passion  made 
his  fixed  smile  extraordinarily  grotesque.  Get  a basket  and 
pick  up  that  stuff,  and  bear  a hand!^^  he  thundered.  ‘‘  Has 
Miss  Helga  a light?^^ 

“ Yes,'’^  I answered.  I have  seen  to  that,^^ 

But  she  may  fall — she  may  let  the  lantern  dropT^ 

She  is  a better  sailor  than  you,^^  I called  out;  ‘‘  she  knows 
how  to  keep  her  feet.  Punmeamootty!  a tumbler,  if  you 
please,  before  you  begin  picking  up  that  stuff. 

‘‘  I must  see  that  Miss  Nielsen^s  lantern  is  safe,^^  said  the 
captain;  and  he  was  coming  forward  as  though  to  pass  through 
the  cuddy  door.  I sprung  to  my  feet  and  confronted  him  on 
widely  stretched  legs. 

“ Noman,^^  said  I,  ‘‘  enters  Miss  Nielsen^s  sleeping  quarters 
while  she  and  I remain  in  this  ship."^^ 

He  stared  at  me  with  twenty  emotions  working  in  his  face. 
His  countenance  then  changed.  I perceived  him  glance  at  the 
bottle  of  rum  that  I held  by  the  neck,  and  that  I was  just  in 
the  temper  to  let  him  have  fair  between  his  eyes  had  he  at- 


856 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


tempted  to  shove  past  me.  I believe  he  thought  I had  been 
drinking. 

“ I can  assure  you/^  he  exclaimed,  with  a violent  reaching 
out  of  his  mind,  so  to  speak,  in  the  direction  of  his  regular  and 
familiar  blandness,  “ that  Miss  Nielsen^s  privacy  is  as  sacred 
to  me  as  to  you.  Will  you  go  below  and  see  that  her  light  is 
all  right?  It  is  a matter  that  as  much  concerns  your  safety 
as  ours.^^ 

Without  answering  him,  1 opened  the  locker,  replaced  the 
bottle,  and  continuing  to  puff  out  great  clouds  of  smoke 
through  the  excitement  under  which  I labored — for  I had 
been  prepared  foy  a hand  to  hand  struggle  with  him,  and  my 
heart  beat  fast  to  the  resolution  of  my  temper — I quitted  the 
cuddy,  with  a loud  call  to  Punmeamootty  to  follow  me  and 
replace  the  hatch. 

W^hether  the  colored  steward  put  the  hatch  on,  whether, 
indeed,  he  followed  me  as  I bid  him,  1 can  not  tell.  1 found 
the  lantern  burning  bravely  and  swinging  fiercely  under  the 
beam,  and  extinguished  it,  and  lay  down  completely  clothed, 
with  the  exception  of  my  boots,  shrewdly  guessing  there 
would  be  little  sleep  for  me  that  night. 

That  it  blew  at  any  time  as  hard  as  it  had  when  we  were 
aboard  the  “ Anine  I can  not  say;  enough  that  the  dreadful 
maddened  motions  of  the  old  vessel  made  a truly  hideous  gale 
of  wind  of  the  weather.  Again  and  again  she  would  tumble 
off  the  head  of  a sea  and  fall  headlong  into  the  yawn  of  water 
at  the  base,  heeling  over  as  she  fell  till  you  would  have  be- 
lieved the  line  of  her  masts  were  parallel  with  the  horizon,  and 
strike  herself  such  a mighty  blow  when  she  got  to  the  bottom 
that  you  listened,  with  a thumping  heart,  for  a crackling  and 
a rending  noise  of  timbers  to  tell  you  that  she  was  going  to 
pieces  like  a child’s  house  of  cards.  It  was  impossible  to 
sleen:  twice  I was  flung  upon  my  bunk,  and  came  very  near  to 


a limb.  I called  to  Helga,  and  found  her  awake.  I 


'asked  her  how  she  did;  but,  silver-clear  and  keen  as  her  voice 
was,  I could  not  catch  her  answer. 

It  is  likely  that  toward  the  small  hours  of  the  morning  I 
now  and  again  snatched  a few  minutes  of  sleep.  From  one  of 
these  brief  spells  of  slumber  I was  aroused  by  the  blow  of  a sea 
that  thrilled  like  an  electric  shock  through  every  plank  and 
fastening  of  the  vessel,  and  to  my  great  joy  I observed, 
as  I thought,  the  faint  gray  of  dawn  coloring  the  dim  and 
weeping  glass  of  the  scuttle.  I immediately  pulled  on  my 
boots  and  made  for  the  hatch,  but  the  cover  was  on  and  the 
darkness  was  as  deep  as  ever  it  had  been  at  midnight.  I con- 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


257 


sidered  for  a minute  how  I should  make  myself  heard,  and 
groping  my  way  back  to  my  berth  I took  a loose  plank,  or 
bunk-board  as  it  is  called,  from  out  of  the  sea-bedstead,  and 
with  it  succeeded  in  raising  such  a thunder  in  the  hollow  cover 
that  in  a few  minutes  it  was  lifted.  The  homely,  flat,  ruddy- 
cheeked  face  of  Jacob,  his  head  clothed  in  a somewhat  tattered 
yellow  sou^-wester  which  he  had  probably  borrowed  from  one 
of  his  colored  mates  forward,  looked  down  upon  me  through 
the  glimmering  square  of  the  aperture. 

“ Why,  blowed,  Mr.  Tregartnen,^^  cried  he,  “ if  Oi  didnT 
think  the  bark  was  ashore!  But  ye^d  have  had  to  hammer 
much  louder  and  much  longer  before  escaping  from  that  rat 
trap  if  it  hadn^t  been  for  me  a-sheltering  of  moyself  under 
this  ’ere  break. 

It  was  a wild  scene  indeed  to  arrive  on  deck  and  suddenly 
view.  Furious  as  was  the  behavior  of  the  bark,  I could  have 
got  no  notion  of  the  weight  of  the  surge  from  her  capers.  A 
huge  swelling,  livid,  frothing  surface — every  billow  looking 
to  rear  to  the  height  of  the  main-top,  where  it  was  shattered 
and  blown  into  a snow-storm— a heaven  of  whirling  soot:  this, 
in  brief,  was  the  picture.  The  vessel,  however,  was  undamaged 
aloft.  She  was  lying  hove-to  under  a band  of  close-reefed 
topsail,  which  glanced  like  a sheet  of  foam  against  the  stoop- 
ing dismal  dusk  of  the  sky.  None  of  the  dark-skinned  crew 
was  visible.  Jacob  roared  in  my  ear  that  they  had  been  half 
wild  with  fear  during  the  the  night. 

“ There’s  some  sort  of  superstition  a- working  in  them,” 
he  shouted;  ‘‘  they’ve  been  a-praying  and  a-praying  horrible, 
arter  their  fashion.  Lucky  for  the  ship  that  she  was  snugged 
before  the  storm  busted.  Them  poor  covies  ain’t  a-going  to 
save  their  lives  when  the  call  comes  for  them  to  live  or  perish.” 

“ Who  has  the  watch?”  said  L 
The  mate,”  he  answered. 

I looked  at  my  watch,  and  was  astonished  to  find  that  it 
was  after  eight.  I had  believed  the  hour  to  be  daybreak,  but 
indeed  it  was  surprising  that  any  light  at  all  should  have  had 
power  to  sift  through  that  storm-laden  sky.  Helga  at  this 
moment  showed  in  the  hatch.  I took  her  hand.  She  looked 
pale,  but  her  mouth  was  firm  as  she  swept  the  boiling,  swollen 
scene  with  her  gaze,  holding  the  deck  with  feet  that  seemed 
to  float  above  the  planks. 

“ What  a night  it  has  been!”  she  cried.  “ This  is  a bad 
ship  for  bad  weather.  Hour  after  hour  I have  been  thinking 
that  she  was  going  to  pieces.” 

I told  Jacob  to  replace  the  hatch-cover,  and  the  girl  aiicVI 


258 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


entered  the  cuddy,  as  it  was  impossible  to  converse  in  the  open; 
while,  spite  of  the  parallel  on  which  we  reeled,  the  weight  of 
the  wind  carried  an  edge  as  of  a Channel  January  blast  in  it. 
In  the  comparative  shelter  of  the  interior  we  were  able  to  talk, 
and  I told  her  how  I had  behaved  to  the  captain  on  the  pre- 
vious night. 

“ Nothing  that  we  can  do,^^  said  she,  can  signify  while  this 
weather  lasts!’^ 

“No,  indeed!’^  I exclaimed.  “We  must  now  pray  for 
the  ship  to  live.  Our  leaving  her  is  made  a twopenny  consid- 
eration of  by  this  gale.^^ 

She  rose  to  look  at  the  tell-tale  compass,  and  returned  to  my 
side  with  a look  of  concern  and  a sad  shake  of  the  head. 

“ This  must  end  our  dream  of  Santa  Oruz,^^  said  she. 

“ It  was  an  idle  dream  at  the  best,^^  I answered. 

“ Unless  it  should  result  in  disabling  the  bark!^^  she  con- 
tinued. She  added  with  a little  passion,  as  she  looked  through 
the  cuddy  window  on  to  the  quarter-deck:  “ I wish  all  three 
masts  would  go  overboard 

“ Leaving  the  hull  sound, said  1. 

“ Yes,  yes,  leaving  the  hull  sound.  1 would  be  content  to 
roll  about  in  this  hateful  vessel  for  a whole  fortnight  if  I could 
be  sure  of  being  taken  off  at  the  end.  Anything,  anything 
to  terminate  this  cruel,  this  ridiculous  captivity 

As  these  words  left  her  lips  the  captain  came  down  the  com- 
panion-steps; He  paused  on  seeing  us,  as  though  he  had  sup- 
posed the  cuddy  empty,  and  v/as  ashamed  to  be  seen  in  that 
figure.  The  dried  white  salt  lay  like  flour  in  his  e}^es;  his 
whiskers  were  mere  rags  of  wet  hair;  a large  globule  of  salt 
water  hung  at  the  end  of  his  nose  like  a gem  worn  after  the 
Eastern  fashion.  He  struggled  along  to  where  we  sat,  and 
extended  his  hand  to  Helga.  In  his  most  unctuous  manner, 
that  contrasted  ludicrously  with  his  streaming  oil-skins,  he 
expressed  the  hope  that  she  had  slept  well,  lamented  the  sever- 
ity of  the  gale  for  her  sake,  but  assured  her  there  was  no  dan- 
ger, that  the  bark  was  making  noble  weather  of  it,  and  that  he 
expected  the  wind  to  moderate  before  noon.  He  held  her 
hand  while  he  spoke,  despite  her  visible  efforts  to  withdraw  it 
from  his  grasp.  He  then  addressed  me. 

“ I have  to  apologize/Mie  exclaimed,  “ for  a little  exhibition 
of  temper  last  night.  I employed  an  expletive  which  I am 
happy  to  think  has  not  es(.*a[)ed  me  for  years.  The  provoca- 
tion was  great — the  anxi<it»es  of  the  gale — the  loss  of  a fore- 
topmast-staysail—the  ruined  crockery  on  deck — a bottle  of  my 
valuable  cordial-brandy  wasted — Punmeamootty^s  somewhat 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


259 


insolent  stupidity— the  most  pious  mind  might  be  reasonably 
forgiven  for  venting  itself  in  the  language  of  the  forecastle 
under  the  irritation  of  so  many  trials!  But  I offer  you  my 
apologies,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  and  I hope,  sir,  that  you  slept 
welL^" 

I answered  him.  coldly  and  with  averted  eyes,  being  now  re- 
solved  to  persevere  in  my  assumption  of  contemptuous  dislike, 
which  I also  desired  he  should  believe  was  animated  by  a de- 
termination to  punish  him  when  I got  him  ashore. 

He  went  to  his  cabin  to  refresh  himself,  first  taking  care  to 
inform  us,  with  a large  smile,  that  he  had  spent  the  whole  of 
the  night  on  deck  in  looking  after  the  vessel,  whose  safety,  he 
exclaimed,  with  a significant  leer  at  Helga,  has  been  ren- 
dered extraordinarily  precious  to  me  since  Monday  last.^^ 

I now  told  her — for  I had  forgotten  the  incident — how  our 
oily  friend  had  whipped  out  with  a small  oath  on  the  previous 
night. 

“ So,  then,  he  has  humanized  himself  to  you?^^  said  she, 
laughing. 

‘‘It  is  the  only  symptom  of  sincerity  I have  observed  in 
him,^^  I exclaimed. 

He  reappeared  presently,  soaped,  shining  and  smiling,  with 
dried  whiskers  floating  smoke-like,  on  either  hand  a purple 
satin  cravat.  But  the  breakfast  was  to  be  a poor  one  that 
morning.  • The  cook,  it  seems,  could  not  keep  the  galley  fire 
alight,  and  we  had  to  make  the  best  meal  we  could  off  a tin  of 
preserved  meat  and  some  biscuit  and  wine  and  water.  The 
captain  was  profusely  apologetic  to  Helga,  and  unctuously  as- 
cribed the  poverty  of  the  meal  to  me,  who,  he  said  with  an  air 
of  jocosity,  was  the  cause  of  half  a ham  and  an  excellent 
piece  of  beef  being  rendered  unfit  for  the  table.  1 made  no 
answer  to  this.  Indeed,  Helga  and  I sat  like  mutes  at  that 
table;  but  the  captain  talked  abundantly,  almost  wholly  ad- 
dressing himself  to  the  girl.  In  truth,  it  was  now  easy  to  see 
that  the  unfortunate  man  was  head  over  ears  in  love  with  her. 

His  gaze  was  a prolonged  stare  of  admiration,  and  he  seemed 
to  find  nothing  in  her  behavior  to  chill  or  repel  him.  On  the 
contrary,  the  more  she  kept  her  eyes  downward  bent,  the 
colder  and  harder  grew  her  face,  the  more  taciturn  she  was — 
again  and  again  not  vouchsafing  even  a monosyllabic  answer 
to  him — the  more  he  warmed  towards  her,  the  more  he  en- 
croached in  his  behavior.  If  he  had  any  sensibility,  it  was 
armor-clad  by  complacency.  I never  could  have  believed  that 
vanity  had  such  power  as  I here  founrl  to  sheath  so  impen©^ 
trably  the  human  understanding.  Well,  thought  I to  myself. 


260 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


fill  this  means  a voyage  for  ITelga,  if  not  for  me.  Assuredly 
he’ll  not  part  with  her  this  side  of  the  Cape,  and  the  fool’s 
hope,  1 thought,  as  I let  my  eyes  rest  on  the  grinning  mask  of 
his  countenance,  is  that  he  will  have  won  her  long  before  he 
reaches  the  parallel  of  thirty-four  degrees  south,  though  he 
has  to  make  the  most  of  every  calm  and  of  every  gale  of  wind 
to  achieve  his  end. 

I will  not  attempt  to  follow  the  hours  of  that  day.  They 
were  little  more  than  a repetition  of  our  experiences  in  the 
“Anine.”  The  captain  came  and  went,  but  for  the  most 
part  Helga  and  I remained  in  the  cabin.  The  gale  somewhat 
moderated  at  noon,  as  the  skipper  had  predicted,  but  it  still 
blew  too  hard  to  make  sail  on  the  ship,  and  she  lay  hove-to 
in  the  trough,  sickening  me  to  the  inmost  recesses  of  my  soul 
with  her  extravagant  somersaults  and  prodigious  falls  and  up- 
heavals. Somewhere  about  half  past  four  that  afternoon,  on 
looking  through  the  cuddy  window,  I saw  Jacob  smoking  a 
pipe  in  the  shelter  of  the  projection  of  the  captain’s  and 
mate’s  cabins.  I thought  I would  keep  him  company,  and, 
having  cut  up  a pipe  of  tobacco  for  myself,  1 quitted  Helga, 
who  showed  a disposition  to  doze,  and  joined  the  boatman. 

The  wind  made  a great  howling  aloft,  and  the  thun- 
derous wash  of  the  breaking  waters  against  the  vessel’s  side  put 
a wild  note  of  storm  into  the  shrieking  and  hissing  and  hoot- 
ing of  the  rigging.  But  it  was  fairly  calm  in  the  recess,  and 
we  conversed  very  easily.  I asked  Jacob,  while  I pointed 
over  the  lee-rail  at  the  huge,  dark-  green,  froth-laced  backs  of 
the  seas  rushing  from  the  ship  in  headlong  race,  what  would 
be  his  thoughts  of  this  weather  if  he  were  aboard  the  Early 
Morn.” 

“ Why,  the  lugger  ’ud  be  doing  as  well  as  this  here  bucket, 
any  way,”  said  he. 

“ Captain  Bunting,”  said  I,  “ will  think  that  you  are  not 
half  grateful  enough  for  your  deliverance.” 

“He  is  a proper  gentleman!”  he  exclaimed.  “Abraham 
swears  there  ain’t  the  likes  of  him  afloat  for  politeness;  but 
his  crew  b’ent  of  Abey’s  mind.  I’m  afraid.  Looks  to  me  as 
if  there’s  going  to  be  trouble.” 

“ Anything  fresh  happened?”  I asked. 

“ It’s  all  along  of  this  matter  of  sarving  out  pork  to  them 
chaps  as  won’t  eat  it,  Mr.  Trogarthen.  The  mate  gave  ’em 
pork  again  to-day.  There  ain’t  no  galley-fire  alight,  so  it’s 
all  the  same  to  them  colored  chaps  whether  it  be  pork  or  beef. 
But  it’s  the  principle  of  it  what’s  a-sticking  in  their  gizzards. 
Nakier  says  to  me,  ‘ It  would  be  allee  de  same  if  de  water  boil,’ 


MY  MKISH  SWEETHEART. 


261 


Says  he,  ‘ for  it  is  eider  pork  or  no  meat,^  by  which  he  sinni- 
fied  that  if  be  so  as  it  was  fine  weather  and  the  galley-fire  goin% 
the  men ^s  dinner  to-day  ^ud  be  pork  or  nothen.  Now,  Mr. 
Tregarthen,  Oi  allow  that  they  don^t  mean  to  keep  all  on  en- 
during of  this  here  treatment. 

“ What  have  you  noticed  to  make  you  suppose  this?^^  said 
I,  with  a glance  along  the  deserted  decks,  dark  with  sobbing 
wet  and  often  shrouded  forward  by  vast  showers  of  flying 
spray. 

“ Well,^^  he  answered,  “ all  the  darkies  has  been  a-sitting 
below  saving  the  chap  at  the  wheel,  there  being  nothen  for 
them  to  do  on  deck.  I was  in  the  fo^k’sle  when  Nakier  comes 
down  and  tells  the  men  that  it  was  to  be  pork  again.  I 
couldn^t  understand  him,  for  he  spoke  his  own  language,  but 
guessed  what  was  up  when  I heerd  the  hullabaloo  his  words 
raised.  They  all  began  to  sing  out  together  in  a sort  of 
screeching  voice  like  the  row  made  by  a crowd  of  women 
a-quarreling  and  a-pulling  the  hair  out  of  each  other^s  heads 
up  a halley.  Some  skipped  about  in  their  rage  as  though 
there  was  a fiddle  going.  One  chap,  him  with  a face  like  a 
decayed  lemon,  he  outs  with  his  knife  and  falls  a-stabbing  of 
the  atmosphere;  and  Oi  tell  ye,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  when  I saw 
that  I just  drawed  my  legs  up  into  my  bunk  and  tried  to 
make  myself  as  little  as  possible  with  the  hope  of  escaping  his 
hobservation,  for  damme!  thought  I,  if  that  there  article's 
a-going  to  run  amuck,  as  Tve  heerd  tell  the  likes  of  him  is  in 
the  habit  of  doing,  strike  me  dark,  thinks  Oi,  if  I behit  the 
fust  man  he’ll  fall  foul  on!” 

“ What  was  said?”  1 asked. 

“ Why,  ask  yourself  the  question,  sir.  What  do  monkeys 
say  when  they  start  a-yelling?  Who’s  to  know  what  they 
said?” 

“ How  do  you  know,  then,  that  it  was  the  serving-out  of  the 
pork  again  that  excited  them?”  said  I. 

“ Whoy,  that  there  Nakier  told  me  so  arterwards.” 

‘‘Ha!”  I exclaimed;  “and  for  how  long  did  they  go  on 
shrieking,  as  you  say,  and  brand^hing  their  knives?” 

“It  was  over  wonderful  soon,”  he  answered.  “Nakier 
looked  on  while  they  was  all  a-shoufcing  together,  then  said 
something,  and  it  was  like  blowing  the  head  off  a pint  o’  ale 
— nothen  remained  but  flatness.  They  just  stood  and  listened 
while  Nakier  spouted,  and  ye  should  ha’  seen  ’em  a-nodding 
and  a-grimacing,  and  brandishing  their  arms  and  slapping 
their  legs;  but  they  never  said  nothen;  they  just  took  and 
listened.  Tell  ’ee,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  the  suddenness  of  it,  and 


262 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


the  looks  of  ^em  was  something  to  bring  the  pusperation  out  of 
the  pores  of  a Polar  bear.^^ 

‘‘  What  does  Abraham  think?^^  said  I. 

“ Whoy,  I dunno  how  it  is,  he  don^t  seem  to  obsarve — ap- 
pears to  find  nothen  to  take  to  heart.  He^s  growed  a bit 
consequential,  being  now  what  the  skipper  would  call  a 
orficer,  and  though  he  sleeps  forrard  his  feelings  is  aft.  -^Tis 
mere  growling,  he  thinks,  with  the  fellows.  But  there^s 
moren^t  than  that,^^  said  he,  striking  a match  and  catching 
the  flame  of  it  in  his  clasped  hand,  and  lighting  his  pipe  as  easily 
as  if  there  were  not  a breath  of  air  stirring. 

“ The  lunatic  of  a captain  has  his  eyes  in  his  head,^^  said  I, 
thinking  aloud  rather  than  conversing.  ‘‘  If  he  can^t  see  the 
mischief  his  mad  notion  of  conversion  is  breeding,  it  is  not 
for  me  to  point  it  out.  In  fact,  I heartily  wish  the  Malays 
would  seize  the  bark  and  sail  her  to  Madeira  or  the  Canaries. 
Is  it  not  abominable  that  Miss  Nielsen  and  I should  be  carried 
away  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  against  our  will  by  that  long- 
whiskered  rogue signifying  the  captain  by  a backward  mo- 
tion of  my  head  at  the  cabin. 

“ Abraham  was  a-telling  me  about  this  here  traverse.  The 
skipper^s  gone  and  fallen  in  love  with  the  young  lady,  ain^t 
he?^^  said  Jacob,  with  a grin  overspreading  his  fiat  face. 

Yes,^^  said  I,  “ and  hopes  by  keeping  her  aboard  to  win 
her  heart.  The  dolt!’^ 

“ Dunno  about  sir!^^  exclaimed  Jacob.  She^s  a nice 
looking  young  gal,  is  Miss  Nielsen,  and,  I allow,  just  the  sort 
of  wife  as  a shipmaster  would  live  heasy  vith.^^ 

“ You  argue  as  vilely  as  Abrahaiii,^^  said  I,  looking  at  him 
angrily.  ‘‘  Will  you  pretend  that  this  captain  is  not  acting 
outogeously  in  detaining  the  young  lady  on  board  hi&  ship — 
imprisoning  her,  in  short— for  that  is  what  it  conies  to?^^ 

A little  look  of  intelligence  gave  a new  expression  to  the  flat- 
faced fellow^s  smile  as  he  respectfully  surveyed  me. 

“ Well,  sir — I don^t  blame  you 


claimed.  ‘‘  I\e  kep^  company 


along  with  as  nice  a gal  as  was  ever  seen  in  Deal,  a-courting 
and  a-courting,  and  always  too  pore  to  git  spliced,  I know 
what  the  passion  of  jealousy  is.  She  took  up  with  a corporal 
of  marines,  and,  I tell  ye,  I suffered. . It  came  roight,  then  it 
went  wrong  again,  and  it  ended  in  her  marrying  a measly 
little  slice  of  a chap,  named  Billy  Tusser,  whoM  saved  a bit 
out  o^  sprattin’  and  hovel  lin^  I can^t  blame  ^ee,  sir.^^ 

It  was  not  a matter  to  pursue  witli  this  worthy  man,  whose 
small  intelligence  lay  too  deep  to  bo  worth  boring  for;  so  I 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


363 


dropped  the  subject,  and  talked  afresh  of  the  colored  crew,  and 
cojifcinued  lingering  till  I could  not  have  told  how  long  our 
chat  lasted.  Though  the  gale  was  much  less  hard  than  it  had 
blown  down  to  noon,  it  was  still  a very  violent  wind,  and  the 
sea  as  wild  as  ever  it  had  been,  with  the  shadow  of  the  even- 
ing now  to  add  a darker  tinge  of  gloom  to  the  whirl  of  stoop- 
ing, sooty  heaven,  under  which  every  head  of  surge  broke  like 
a flash  of  ghastly  light.  The  vessel  was  a strangely  desolate 
picture — not  a living  creature  to  be  seen  forward,  the  decks 
half  drowned,  water  sluicing  white  off  the  forecastle  rim,  or 
blowing  up  into  the  wind  from  off  that  raised  deck  in  bursts 
of  crystalline  smoke,  like  corkscrew  leapings  of  fine  snow  to 
the  hurl  of  a blast  roaring  across  a wrntery  moor.  The  slack 
gear  curved  black  with  wet;  again  and  again  the  vessel  would 
pitch  into  the  bow  sea  till  the  spreading  froth  made  by  the 
massive  plunge  of  her  round  bows  rose  to  her  forecastle  rail. 
1 had  had  enough  of  the  cold  and  the  wet;  the  cheerless  pict- 
ure of  the  bark  and  the  ocean,  too,  was  unspeakably  depress- 
ing, and,  with  a glance  round  at  the  near  horizon  of  broken 
creaming  waters  on  which  nothing  showed,  1 bestowed  a nod 
of  farewell  on  Jacob,  and  re-entered  the  cuddy. 

Captain  Bunting  was  sitting  close  to  Helga.  The  light’was 
so  weak  in  this  interior  that  1 had  to  peer  a little  to  make 
sure  that  it  was  the  captain,  for  the  dim  figure  might  well 
have  been  the  maters.  Helga  was  at  the  extreme  end  of  the 
locker,  as  though  she  had  uneasily  worked  her  way  from  his 
side  while  they  sat;  but  he  had  followed,  and  was  now  close, 
and  her  next  and  only  step  to  get  rid  of  him  must  be  to  rise. 
He  was  addressing  her  very  earnestly  when  I entered;  his  whis- 
kers floated  from  his  cheeks  as  he  bent  toward  her.  Charged 
as  the  cuddy  was  with  the  complaining  sounds  of  the  laboring 
fabric,  speech  was  very  easy  within  it,  nor  was  it  necessary  to 
raise  the  voice.  Indeed,  the  interior  had  the  effect  of  a hush 
upon  my  ears,  coming,  as  I did  fresh  from  the  shriek  and 
thunder  of  the  weather  out  on  deck. 

On  seeing  me  the  captain  instantly  broke  off,  sat  up,  and 
called  out: 

‘‘  Well,  and  how  are  things  looking  on  deck?^^ 

Helga  rose  and  went  to  the  little  window  against  the  door. 

“ The  weather  could  not  be  worse,/ ^ I answered,  with  the 
air  and  tone  of  sullenness  I had  resolved  on.  ‘‘  Your  ship  is 
too  old  and  squab  for  such  a conflict. 

“ She  is  old,  but  she  is  a stout  ship,^^  he  answered.  She 
will  be  afloat  when  scores  of  what  you  might  consider  beau- 
ties have  vanished. 


204 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ I think  not/^  said  I,  looking  toward  llelga,  and  wonder- 
ing what  the  man  had  been  saying  to  her. 

“Let  us  hope/ ^ he  exclaimed,  lifting  a great  pilot  coat 
from  the  locker  and  struggling  into  it,  “ that  the  necessity  for 
your  remaining  here  will  not  last  very  much  longer.  I should 
have  expected  handsomer  treatment  at  your  hands,  Mr.  Tre- 
garthen.^^ 

“ I do  not  know  what  you  can  find  to  base  such  an  expecta- 
tion on,^^  I cried.  “ Your  detention  of  us  is  cruel,  and,  as  I 
hope  and  believe,  punishable.  But  there  is  no  good  in  dis- 
cussing that  matter  with  you  here  and  now.  I have  merely  to 
beg  that  we  may  be  as  strangers  while  we  are  so  unfortunate 
as  to  be  together  in  the  same  ship.^^ 

He  drew  his  sou’-wester  down  upon  his  head,  surveying  me 
in  the  meanwhile;  but  1 witnessed  no  malevolence  in  his  re- 
gard; indeed,  I may  say  no  trace  of  temper.  His  enduring 
smile  lay  broad  with  such  expansion,  indeed,  as  gave  an  air  of 
elation  to  his  face. 

“ No, said  he,  wagging  his  head,  while  he  slipped  the 
elastic  band  of  his  sou^-wester  behind  his  whisker,  we  will 
not  live  together  as  strangers,  as  you  desire.  Brotherly  love  is 
still  practicable,  and  nothing  that  you  can  say  or  do^  my  young 
friend,  shall  dissuade  me  from  cultivating  it.  That  we  shall 
be  long  together  I do  not  believe, he  added,  with  a signifi- 
cance that  astonished  me  and  sent  my  eyes  askant  at  Helga, 
whose  back  was  still  upon  us.  “ Meanwhile  endeavor  to  be 
contented.  To  have  content  is  to  have  all,  and  to  have  all  is 
to  be  richer  than  the  richest. 

He  inclined  his  sou’-westered  head  in  an  odd  benedictory 
grotesque  nod  or  bow,  and,  with  a half  pause  in  his  manner  as 
though  he  would  call  some  speech  to  Helga,  turned  on  his  heel 
and  went  on  deck. 

“ What  has  he  been  saying,  Helga?^^ 

She  looked  round,  and,  finding  the  captain  gone,  came  to 
my  side  and  locked  her  fingers  upon  my  arm.  She  had  drawn 
to  me  with  a pale  face,  but  the  blood  flushed  her  throat  and 
cheeks  as  she  let  fall  her  eyes  from  mine.  I had  never  before 
thought  her  so  sweet  as  she  showed  at  that  moment.  She  was 
without  a hat,  and  her  short  fair  hair  glimmered  on  her  head 
in  the  gathering  gloom  of  the  evening  with  a sheen  like  the 
glancing  of  bright  amber.  My  memory  gave  me  a thought 
lull  of  beauty — a wild  caprice  of  sentiment  at  such  a timel 

The  freshness  of  new  hay  is  on  tliy  hair. 

And  the  wiilidrawing  innoceucc  of  home 
WithinVhine  eye. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


?66 


‘‘  What  has  he  been  sajing  to  you,  Helga?’^ 

“ That  he  loves  me/^  she  answered,  now  fixing  her  artless, 
tender  gaze  upon  me,  though  her  blush  lingered. 

“ A fine  time  to  tell  you  such  a thing!  Does  that  sort  of 
sea-captain  wait  for  a gale  of  wind  to  propose  to  a girl: I 
exclaimed,  with  a sudden  irritation  of  jealousy  tingling  through 
me,  and  I looked  at  her  closely  and  suspiciously. 

“ I wanted  to  be  angry,  Hugh,  but  could  not,^^  said  she. 
“ I hate  the  man,  yet  1 could  not  be  angry  with  him.  He  spoke 
of  his  daughter — he  did  not  talk  through  his  nose — he  did  not 
cant  at  all.  Is  ‘ cant'  the  right  word?  I felt  sorry;  I had 
not  the  heart  to  answer  him  in  rudeness,  and  to  have  risen 
and  left  him  while  he  was  speaking  would  have  been  rude- 
ness." 

I made  a slight  effort  to  disengage  my  arm  from  her  clasp. 

He  told  me — no  doubt  you  heard  him,"  said  I — ‘‘  he  told 
me  he  believed  there  would  be  no  necessity  to  keep  me  long. 
He  is  a clever  man — a shrewd  man.  Well,  after  this  I shall 
believe  in  all  the  proverbs  about  women." 

“ What  do  you  mean,  Hugh?"  she  exclaimed  in  a startled 
voice,  letting  fall  her  hands  and  staring  at  me. 

“ What  do  you  mean?" 

“ Why,  that  I am  sorry  for  the  man,  and  hate  him." 

“Oh!  if  you  keep  sorry  long,  you  will  soon  cease  to  hate 
him." 

“ No,  no!"  she  cried  with  a little  passion,  making  as  if  to 
clasp  my  arm  afresh  and  then  shrinking.  “ I could  not  help 
his  coming  here  and  speaking  to  me." 

“ That  is  true." 

“ Oh,  Hugh,  why  are  you  angry?" 

Her  gaze  pleaded,  her  lips  twitched,  even  as  she  looked  at 
me  her  blue  eyes  filled.  Her  grieved,  pretty  face — her  wist- 
ful, tender,  tearful  face  must  have  transformed  my  temper 
into  impassioned  pity,  into  self-reproach,  in  tokeen  self-resent- 
ment, even  had  there  been  solid  ground  for  vexation.  I took 
her  hand  and  lifted  it  to  my  lips. 

“Forgive  me,  Helga;  we  have  been  much  together.  Our 
association  and  your  father's  dying  words  make  me  think  of 
you  as  mine  until — until — the  long  and  short  of  it  is,  Helga, 
1 am  jealous!" 

An  expression  of  delight  entered  and  vanished  from  her  face. 
She  stood  thoughtfully  looking  down  on  the  deck.  J ust  then 
Punmeamootty  entered  to  prepare  the  table  for  supper,  and 
Helga  again  went  to  the  cabin  window  and  stood  looking  out, 
lightly,  with  iiijconscious  ease  §nd  grace^  swaying  to  the 


2(56 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


stormy  heave  of  the  deck  with  her  hands  clasped  behind  her 
in  a posture  of  meditation. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A NIGHT  OF  HORROR. 

The  gale  broke  on  the  morning  of  Thursday,  the  second  of 
November.  The  compacted  heaven  of  cloud  scattered  in 
swelling  cream-colored  masses;  the  sun  shone  out  of  tlie  wide 
lakes  of  moist  blue,  and  the  sea  turned  from  the  cold  and  sickly 
gray  of  the  stormy  hours  into  a rich  sapphire,  with  a high  swell 
and  a plentiful  chasing  of  foaming  billows.  By  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  ocean  had  smoothed  down  into  a tropical 
expanse  of  quietly  rising  and  falling  waters,  with  the  hot  sun 
sliding  westward  and  the  bark  stemming  the  sea  afresh  under 
all  cloths  which  could  be  piled  upon  her,  the  wind  a small 
breeze,  about  west,  and  the  sea-line  a flawless  girdle. 

The  evening  that  followed  was  one  of  quiet  beauty.  There 
was  a young  moon  overhead,  with  power  enough  to  drop  a lit- 
tle trickling  of  silver  into  the  dark  sea  under  her;  the  clouds 
had  vanished,  and  the  stars  shone  brightly  with  a very  abund- 
ant showering  of  meteoric  lights. above  the  trucks  of  the  silent 
swaying  masts. 

As  we  paced  the  deck  the  captain  joined  us.  Short  of  going 
to  our  respective  cabins  there  was  no  means  of  getting  rid  of 
him;  so  we  continued  to  patrol  the  planks,  withhimatHelga^s 
side,  talking,  talking — oh.  Heaven!  how  he  talked!  His 
manner  was  distressingly  caressing.  Helga  kept  hold  of  my 
arm,  and  meanwhile  I,  true  to  that  posture  I had  maintained 
for  the  past  three  days,  listened  or  sent  my  thoughts  elsewhere, 
rarely  speaking.  In  the  course  of  his  ceaseless  chatter  he 
struck  upon  the  subject  of  his  crew  and  their  victuals,  and 
iald  us  he  was  sorry  that  we  were  not  present  when  Nakier. 
un  i two  other  colored  men  came  aft  into  the  cuddy  after  he 
had  taken  sights  and  gone  below. 

‘‘  1 am  certain, he  exclaimed,  smiting  his  leg,  that  I 
have  made  them  reflective!  I believe  1 could  not  mistake. 
Nakier  in  particular  listened  with  attention,  and  looked -at  his 
mates  with  an  expression  as  though  conviction  were  being 
slowly  borne  in  upon  him.^^ 

I pricked  up  my  ears  at  this,  for  here  was  a matter  that  had 
been  causing  me  some  atixious  thought,  and  I broke  away  from 
my  sullen,  resentful  behavior  to  ({uestion  him. 

“ What  brought  the  men  aft?^^ 

“ The  same  tiresome  he  answered,  speaking  loudly^ 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


267 


and  seemingly  forgetful  of  or  indifferent  to  the  pair  of  yellow 
ears  which,  1 might  warrant  him,  were  thirstily  listening  at 
the  helm.  “ They  ask  for  beef,  for  beef,  for  nothing  but 
beef,  and  I say  yes — beef  one  day,  pork  another;  beef  for  your 
bodies  and  pork  for  your  souls.  I shall  conquer  them;  and 
what  a triumph  it  will  be!  Though  I should  make  no  further 
progress  with  them,  yet  I could  never  feel  too  grateful  for  a 
decisive  victory  over  a gross,  imbecile  superstition  that,  like  a 
shutter,  though  it  be  one  of  many,  helps  to  keep  out  the  light. 

He  then  went  on  to  tell  us  what  he  had  said,  how  he  had 
reasoned,  and  I shall  not  soon  forget  the  unctuous,  self-satisfied 
chuckle  which  broke  from  the  folds  of  his  throat  as  he  paused 
before  asking  Helga  what  she  thought  of  that  as  an  example 
of  pure  logic.  1 listened,  wondering  that  a man  who  could 
talk  as  he  did  should  be  crazy  enough  to  attempt  so  perilous 
an  experiment  as  the  attempting  to  win  his  crew  over  to  his 
own  views  of  religion  by  as  dangerous  an  insult  as  his  fanatical 
mind  could  have  lighted  upon.  It  was  the  more  incompre- 
hensible to  me  in  that  the  fellow  had  started  upon  his  crude 
missionary  scheme  when  there  were  but  two  whites  in  the  ship 
to  eleven  believers  in  the  Prophet. 

I waited  until  his  having  to  fetch  breath  enabled  me  to  put 
in  a word.  1 then  briefly  and  quietly  related  what  had  passed 
in  the  forecastle  as  described  to  me  by  Jacob  Minnikin. 

‘‘  And  what  then,  Mr.  TregarthenT^  said  he,  and  I seemed 
to  catch  a sneer  threading,  so  to  speak,  his  bland  utterance: 
the  moon  gave  but  little  light  as  1 have  said,  and  1 could  not 
see  his  face.  “ When  a man  starts  on  the  work  of  convert- 
ing, he  must  not  be  afraid. 

‘‘  Your  men  have  knives —they  are  devils,  so  I have  heard, 
when  aroused — you  may  not  be  afraid,  but  you  have  no  right 
to  provoke  peril  for  us,^^  1 said. 

The  cockswain  of  a life-boat  should  have  a stout  heart, 
he  exclaimed.  Miss  Nielsen,  do  not  be  alarmed  by  your 
courageous  friend ^s  apprehension.  My  duty  is  exceedingly 
simple.  1 must  do  what  is  right.  Eight  is  divinely  protect- 
ed,^^ and  I saw  by  the  pose  of  his  head  that  he  cast  his  eyes  up 
at  the  sky. 

1 nuilged  Helga  as  a hint  not  to  speak,  just  breathlessly 
vfhispering,  He  is  not  to  be  reasoned  with."^^ 

it  was  a little  before  ten  o^clock  that  night  when  the  girl  re- 
tired to  her  cabin.  The  captain,  addressing  her  in  a simper- 
ing, lover-like  voice,  had  importuned  her  to  change  her  cabin. 
She  needed  to  grow  fretful  before  her  determined  refusals 
silenced  him.  He  entered  his  berth  when  she  had  gone,  and  I 


1 


268  Mir  MKXss  sweetheart. 

took  my  pipe  to  enjoy  a quiet  smoke  on  deck.  After  the  up- 
roar of  the  past  three  days,  the  serenity  of  the  night  was  ex- 
quisitely soothing.  The  moon  shone  in  a curl  of  silver;  the 
canvas  soared  in  pallid  visible  spaces  starward ; there  was  a 
pleasant  rippling  sound  of  gently  stirred  waters  alongside,  and 
the  soft  westerly  night- wind  fanned  the  cheek  with  the  warmth 
of  an  infantas  breath.  The  decks  ran  darkling  forward;  the 
shadow  of  the  courses  flung  a dye  that  was  deeper  than  the 
gloom  of  the  hour  betwixt  the  rails,  and  nothing  stirred  save 
the  low-lying  stars  which  slipped  up  and  down  past  the  fore- 
castle rail  under  the  crescent  of  the  foresail  as  the  bark  court- 
esied. 

Nevertheless,  though  I could  not  see  the  men,  I heard  a deli- 
cate sound  of  voices  proceeding  from  the  block  of  darkness 
where  the  forecastle  front  lay.  Mr.  J ones  had  charge  of  the 
watch,  and,  on  my  stepping  aft  to  the  wheel,  I found  Jacob 
grasping  the  spokes,  having  relieved  the  helm  at  four  bells — 
ten  o^clock.  He  was  not  to  be  accosted  while  on  that  duty; 
and  my  dislike  of  the  mate  had  not  been  lessened  by  the  few 
words  which  had  passed  between  us  since  the  day  when  the 
Cape  steamer  had  gone  by,  and  by  my  observation  of  his  fawn- 
ing behavior  to  the  captain.  I briefly  exclaimed  that  it  was  a 
fine  night,  received  some  careless,  drowsy  answer  from  him, 
and,  with  pipe  betwixt  my  lips,  lounged  lonely  on  the  li^e  side 
of  the  deck,  often  overhanging  the  rail,  and  viewing  the  sea- 
glow  as  it  crept  by,  with  my  mind  full  of  Helga,  of  my  home, 
of  our  experiences  so  far,  and  of  what  might  lie  before  us. 

I was  startled  out  of  a fit  of  musing  by  the  forecastle  bell 
ringing  five.  The  clear,  keen  chimes  floated  like  an  echo  from 
the  sea,  and  I caught  a faint  reverberation  of  them  in  the  hol- 
low canvas.  It  was  half  pas<^  ten.  I knocked  the  ashes  out 
of  my  pipe,  and,  going  on  to  the  quarter-deck,,  dropped  through 
the  hatch. 

The  lantern  swinging  in  the  corridor  betwixt  the  berths  was 
burning.  I lightly  called  to  Helga  to  know  if  all  was  well  with 
her,  but  she  was  silent,  and,  as  I might  suppose,  asleep.  I 
put  out  the  light,  as  my  custoir  now  was,  and,  partially  un- 
clothing myself  in  the  dark,  got  into  my  bunk  and  lay  for  a 
little  watching  the  dance  of  a phantom  star  or  two  in  the  dim 
black  round  of  the  scuttle  close  agaiu'^t  my  head,  sleepily  won- 
dering how  long  this  sort  of  life  was  continue,  what  time 
was  to  pass,  and  how  much  was  to  happen  before  I should  be 
restored  to  the  comfort  of  my  own  snug  bedroom  at  home; 
and  thus  musing,  too  drowsy  perhaps  for  melancholy,  I fell 
asleep. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEARTo  269 

I was  awakened  by  some  one  beating  heavily  upon  the  bulk- 
head of  the  next-door  cabin. 

“Mr.  Tregarthen!  Mr.  TregarthenT^  roared  a voice;  then 
thump!  thump!  went  the  blows  of  a massive  fist  or  handspike. 
“ Por  Gawd  a’mighty^s  sake  wake  up  and  turn  out! — there^s 
murder  a-doing!  Which  is  your  cabin? 

I recognized  the  voice  of  Abraham,  disguised  as  it  was  by 
horror  and  by  the  panting  of  his  breath. 

The  exclamation,  “ There^s  murder  a-doing!^’  collected  my 
wits  in  a flash,  and  I was  wide  awake  and  conscious  of  the 
man^s  meaning  ere  he  had  fairly  delivered  himself  of  his  cry. 

“lam  here — I will  be  with  you!^^  I shouted,  and,  without 
pausing  further  to  attire  myself,  dropped  from  my  bunk 
and  made  with  outstretched  hands  for  the  door,  which  I felt 
for  and  opened. 

It  was  pitch  dark  in  this  passage  betwixt  the  cabins,  with- 
out even  the  dim  gleam  the  porthole  in  the  berth  offered  to  the 
eye  to  rest  on. 

“ Where  are  you,  Abraham  ?^^  I cried. 

“ Here,  sir!’^  he  exclaimed,  almost  in  my  ear,  and,  lifting 
my  hand,  I touched  him. 

“ The  crew^s  up!’^  he  cried.  “ TheyVe  killed  the  mate, 
and  by  this  time,  I allow,  the  capt^n^s  done  for.^^ 

“ Whereas  Jacob?^^ 

“ Gawd  He  only  knows,  sir!^^ 

“Are  you  armed?  Do  you  grip  anything?^’ 

“ Nothen,  nothen.  I run  without  stopping  to  arm  myself. 
I’ll  tell  ye  about  it— -but  it’s  awful  to  be  a-talking  in  this  here 
blackness  with  murder  happening  close  by.” 

He  still  panted  as  from  heavy  recent  exertion,  and  his  voice 
faltered  as  though  he  were  sinking  from  a wound. 

“ What  is  it?”  cried  the  clear  voice  of  Helga  from  her  berth. 

“ Open  your  door!”  I said,  knowing  that  it  was  her  practice 
to  shoot  the  bolt.  “ All  is  darkness  here.  Let  us  in — dress 
yourself  by  feeling  for  your  clothes — the  Malays  have  risen 
upon  the  captain  and  mate — it  may  be  our  turn  next,  and  we 
must  make  a stand  in  your  cabin.  Hush!” 

In  the  interval  of  her  quitting  her  bunk  to  Open  the  door,  1 
strained  my  ears.  Nothing  was  to  be  heard  save  near  and 
distant  straining  noises  rising  out  of  the  vessel  as  she  heeled 
on  the  long  westerly  swell.  But  then  we  were  deep  down,  with 
two  decks  for  any  noise  made  on  the  poop  to  penetrate. 

“ The  door  is  open,”  said  Helga. 

I had  one  hand  on  Abraham’s  arm,  and,  feeling  with  the 
other.  I suided  him  into  Helga’s  berth,  the  position  of  which, 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


270 

as  he  had  never  before  been  in  this  part  of  the  vessel,  he  oould 
not  have  guessed.  1 then  closed  the  door  and  bolted  it. 

“ Dress  yourself  quickly,  Helga!^^  said  I,  talking  to  her  in 
the  mine-like  blindness  of  this  interior  that  was  untouched  by 
the  star  or  two  that  danced  in  her  cabin  window  as  in  mine. 

“ Tell  me  what  has  happened she  exclaimed. 

“ Speak,  Abraham  said  I. 

LorM  but  Oi  don^t  seem  able  to  talk  without  a light/^  he 
answered.  Ain^t  there  no  lantern  here?  If  there^s  a lan- 
tern, Tve  got  three  or  four  loocifers  in  my  pocket. 

“ Hist!^^  I cried.  ‘‘  I hear  footsteps. 

We  held  our  breath:  all  was  still.  Some  sound  had  fallen 
upon  my  ear.  It  resembled  the  slapping  of  planks  with  naked 
feet  to  my  fancy,  that  had  been  terrified  by  Abraham^s  sudden 
horrible  report,  before  there  was  time  for  my  muscles  and 
nerves  to  harden  into  full  waking  strength. 

What  d^ye  hear?^^  hoarsely  whispered  Abraham. 

“ It  was  imagination.  Helga,  can  we  light  the  lantern?^^ 

She  answered  yes — she  was  ready. 

“ Strike  a match,  Abraham,  that  1 may  see  where  the  lan- 
tern hangs, said  1. 

He  did  so,  holding  the  flame  in  his  fist.  I opened  the  door, 
whipped  out,  took  down  the  lantern  and  darted  in  again,  bolt- 
ing the  door  anew  with  a thrill  of  fear  following  upon  the  haste 
I had  made  through  imagination  of  one  of  those  yellow-skins 
crouching  outside  with  naked  knife  in  hand.  I swiftly  lighted 
the  lantern,  and  placed  it  in  Helga^s  bunk.  Abraham  was  of 
an  ashen  paleness,  and  I knew  my  own  cheeks  to  be  bloodless. 

“ Ought  we  to  fear  the  crew?^^  cried  Helga.  “We  have 
not  wronged  them.  They  will  not  want  our  lives. 

“ Dorn^t  trust  ’em,  dorn^t  trust  ^em!^^  exclaimed  Abraham. 
“ Ain’t  there  nothen  here  to  sarve  as  weapons?^^  he  added, 
rolling  his  eyes  around  the  cabin. 

“ What  is  the  story?  Tell  it  now,  man,  tell  itT^  I cried,  in 
a voice  vehement  with  nerves. 

He  answered,  speaking  low,  very  hastily  and  hoarsely: 

“ Oi^d  gone  below  at  eight  bolls.  Oi  found  Nakier  harangu- 
ing some  of  the  men  as  was  in  the  fok/sle;  but  he  broke  off 
when  he  see  me.  I smoked  a pipe,  and  then  tamed  in  and 
slep’  for  an  hour  or  so;  then  awoke  and  spied  five  or  six  of  the 
chaps  a-whispering  together  up  in  a corner  of  the  fok^sle. 
They  often  looked  moy  way,  but  there  worn^t  loight  enough  to 
let  ^ern  know  that  my  eyes  was  open,  and  1 lay  secretly 
a-watcliing  ’em,  smelling  mischit-f.  Then  a couple  of  ^em 
wont  on  deck,  and  the  rest  down.  Hothen  happened  for 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART* 


m 

some  time.  Meanwhile  Oi  lay  woide  awake,  listening  and 
watching.  ^Twas  about  seven  bells,  I reckon,  when  some  one 
— Oi  think  it  was  Nakier — calls  softly  down  through  the  hatch, 
and  instantly  all  the  fellows,  who  as  I could  ha^  swore  was 
sound  asleep,  dropped  from  their  hammocks  like  one  man,  and 
the  fok^sle  was  empty.  I looked  round  to  make  sure  that  it 
were  empty,  then  sneaks  up  and  looks  aft  with  my  chin  no 
higher  than  the  coaming.  I heered  a loud  shriek,  and  a cry 
of  'Oh,  God!  Oh,  God!  Help!  Help!’  and  now,  guessing 
what  was  happening,  and  believing  that  the  tastin’  of  blood 
would  drive  them  fellows  mad,  and  that  Oi  should  be  next  if 
Jacob  worn’t  already  gone,  him  being  at  the  wheel,  as  I might 
calculate  by  his  not  being  forrard,  Oi  took  and  run,  and  here 
Oiam.” 

He  passed  the  back  of  his  hand  over  his  brow,  following  the 
action  with  a fling  of  his  fingers  from  the  wrist;  and,  indeed, 
it  was  now  to  be  seen  that  his  face  streamed  with  sweat. 

" Ho  you  believe  they  have  murdered  the  captain?”  cried 
Helga. 

I dorn’t  doubt  it — 1 can’t  doubt  it.  There  seemed  two 
gangs  of  ’em.  Oi  run  for  my  life,  and  yet  I see  two  gangs,” 
aijswered  Abraham. 

''Horrible!”  exclaimed  the  girl,  looking  at  me  with  fixed 
eyes,  yet  she  seemed  more  shocked  than  frightened. 

" Did  not  I foresee  this?”  1 exclaimed.  " Where  were 
your  senses,  man — you  who  lived  among  them,  eat  and  drank 
with  them?  It  would  be  bad  enough  if  they  were  white  men; 
but  how  stands  our  case,  do  you  think,  in  a ship  seized  by  sav- 
ages who  have  been  made  to  hate  us  for  our  creed  and  for  the 
color  of  our  skins?” 

"Hark!”  cried  Helga. 

We  strained  our  hearing,  but  nothing  was  audible  to  me  sav- 
ing my 'heart,  that  beat  loud  in  my  ears. 

" I thought  I heard  the  sound  of  a splash,”  she  exclaimed. 

" If  they  should  ha’  done  for  my  mate,  Jacob!”  cried  Abra- 
ham. " As  the  Lord’s  good,  ’twill  be  too  hard.  Fust  wan, 
then  another,  and  now  nowt  but  me  left  of  our  little  company 
as  left  Deal  but  a day  or  tew  ago,  as  it  seems  when  Oi  looks 
back.” 

" Are  we  to  perish  here  like  poisoned  rats  in  a hole?”  said 
I.  "If  they  clap  the  hatch-cover  on,  what’s  to  become  of  us?” 

" Who  among  them  can  navigate  the  ship?”  asked  Helga, 

" Ne’er  a one,”  replied  Abraham;  " that  I can  tell  ’ee  from 
recollecting  of  the  questions  Nakier’s  asted  me  from  toime  to 
toime.” 


272 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ But  iE  the  body  of  them  should  come  below/ ^ cried  I, 
“ and  force  that  door — as  easily  done  as  blowing  out  that  light 
there — are  we  to  be  butchered  with  empty  hands,  looking  at 
thorn  without  a lift  of  our  arms,  unless  ii:  be  to  implore  mercy? 
iloi-e  are  two  of  us — Englishmen!  Are  we  to  be  struck  down 
as  if  we  were  women?’^ 

'fhere  are  three  of  us!^^  said  Helga. 

“ What  are  our  weapons?^^  I exclaimed,  wildly  sweeping  the 
lilUe  hole  of  a cabin  with  my  eyes.  “ They  have  their  knives!^^ 

‘‘  Give  me  the  handling  of  ^em  one  arter  the  other,^^  said 
Abraham,  fetching  a deep  breath  and  then  spitting  on  his 
hands,  “ and  Til  take  the  whole  Meven  whilst  ye  both  sit  down 
and  look  on.  But  all  of  them  at  wanst — all  dronk  with  rage 
and  snapping  round  a man  as  if  he  was  a sheep  and  they 
wolves—’’  he  breathed  deeply  again,  slowly  shaking  his  head. 

“ The  planks  in  that  bunk  are  loose,^’  said  1,  “ but  what 
can  we  do  with  boards?’^ 

Hugh,  1 will  go  on  deck!’^  suddenly  exclaimed  Helga. 

‘‘You?”  cried  I.  “No,  indeed!  You  will  remain  here. 
There  must  be  two  of  us  for  them  to  deal  with  before  the  third 
can  be  come  at!” 

“ I will  go  on  deck!”  she  repeated.  “ I have  less  cause  to 
fear  them  than  you.  They  know  that  I am  acquainted  with 
navigation — they  have  always  looked  at  me  with  kindness  in 
their  faces.  Let  me  go  and  talk  to  them!’^ 

She  made  a step  to  the  door — I gripped  her  arm,  and  brought 
her  to  my  side  and  held  her. 

“ What  is  to  be  done  is  for  us  two  men  to  do!”  said  I.  “ We 
must  think,  and  we  must  wait.” 

“ Hugh,  let  me  go!’^  she  cried.  “lam  certain  they  will 
listen  to  me,  and  I shall  be  able  to  make  terms.  Unless  there 
be  a navigator  among  them,  what  can  they  do  with  the  ship  in 
this  great  ocean?”  She  struggled,  crying  again;  “ Let  me  go 
to  them,  If  ugh!” 

“ Dorn’t  you  do  nothen  of  the  sort,  sir!”  exclaimed  Abra- 
ham. “ What’d  happen?  They’d  tarn  to  and  lock  her  up 
until  they’d  made  an  end  of  you  and  me,  and  then  she’d  be 
left  alone  aboard  this  wessel — alone,  I mean,  with  eleven  yal- 
ler  savages.  Gord  preserve  us!  If  you  let  go  of  her,  sir,  0^ 
shall  have  to  st()[)  the  road.” 

There  was  somelhing  of  deliberateness  in  his  speech:  his 
English  spirit  was  coming  hack  with  the  weakening  of  the  hor- 
ror that  had  filled  him  when  he  first  came  rushing  below. 

Some  one  knocked  lightly  on  the  door.  At  the  same  instant 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  273 

my  eye  was  taken  by  the  glance  of  lamp  or  candle  flame  in  the 
opening  in  the  bulkhead  overlooking  the  narrow  passage. 

“ Ilush!^’  cried  1. 

The  knock  was  repeated.  It  was  a very  soft  tapping,  as 
though  made  by  a timid  knuckle. 

“ Who  is  there?’^  1 shouted,  gathering  myself  together  with 
a resolution  to  leap  upon  the  first  dark  throat  that  showed;  for 
I believed  this  soft  knocking — this  soundless  approach — a 
Malay  ruse,  and  my  veins  tingled  with  the  madness  that  enters 
the  blood  of  a man  in  the  supreme  moment  whose  expiry 
means  life  or  death  to  him. 

“ It  is  me,  master!  Open,  master!  It  is  allee  right !^^ 

‘‘  That’s  Nakier!^^  exclaimed  Abraham. 

“ Who  is  it?’^  1 cried. 

“ Me,  sah— Nakier.  It  is  allee  right,  I say.  Do  not  fear. 
Our  work  is  done.  We  wish  to  speakee  with  you.  and  b© 
friend. 

“ How  many  of  you  are  there  outside?^^  I called. 

“ No  man  but  Nakier,^^  he  answered. 

How  are  we  to  know  that?’^  bawled  Abraham.  “ The 
most  of  you  have  naked  feet.  A whole  army  of  ye  might 
sneak  aft,  and  no  one  guess  it.^^ 

“ 1 swear  Nakier  is  alone.  Lady,  you  shall  trust  Nakier. 
Our  work  is  done;  it  is  allee  right,  I say.  See,  you  t^ink  I am 
not  alone;  you  are  afraid  of  my  knife;  go  a lee  tie  wa^^  back — 
I trow  my  knife  to  you.^^ 

We  recoiled  to  the  bulkhead,  and  Abraham  roared  “ Heave!’* 
The  knife  fell  upon  the  deck  close  to  my  feet.  I pounced  upon 
it  as  a cat  upon  a mouse,  but  dropped  it  with  a cry.  “ Oh, 
God,  it  is  bloody!” 

‘‘Give  it  me!”  exclaimed  Abraham,  in  a hoarse  shout; 
“ it’ll  be  bloodier  yet,  now  I’ve  got  it,  if  that  there  Nakier ’s 
a-playing  false.” 

Grasping  it  in  his  right  hand,  he  slipped  back  the  bolt,  and 
opened  the  door.  The  sensations  of  a life-time  of  wild  experi- 
ences might  have  been  concentrated  in  that  one  instant.  I had 
heard  and  read  so  much  about  the  treachery  of  the  Malay  that 
when  Abraham  flung  open  the  little  cabin  door  I was  prepared 
for  a rush  of  dusky  shapes,  and  to  find  myself  grappling — but 
not  for  life,  since  death  I knew  to  be  certain,  armed  as  ever5 
•creature  of  them  was  with  the  deadly  blade  of  the  sailor’s 
sheath  knife.  Instead — erect  in  the  corridor,  immediately 
abreast  of  our  cabin,  holding  a bull’s-eye  lamp  in  his  hand, 
stood  Nakier,  who  on  seeing  us  put  the  light  on  the  deck,  and 


m 


MY  DAKI8H  SWEETHEART. 


saluted  us  by  bringing  both  hands  to  his  brow.  Abraham  put 
his  head  out. 

“ There  ainT  nobody  here  but  Nakier!^^  he  cried. 

“ What  have  you  done?^^  I exclaimed,  looking  at  the  man, 
who  in  the  combined  light  showed  plainly,  and  whose  handsome 
features  had  the  modest  look,  the  prepossessing  air  I had  found 
when  my  gaze  first  rested  on  him  in  this  ship. 

“ The  captain  is  kill — Pallunappachelly,  he  kill  him.  The 
mate  is  kill — with  this  ban\^^  He  held  up  his  arm. 

“ Whereas  moy  mate?’^  thundered  Abraham. 

“No  man  touch  him.  Jacob,  he  allee  right.  Two  only.^’ 
He  held  up  two  fingers.  “ The  captain  and  Misser  Jones. 
They  treat  us  like  dog,  and  we  bite  likedog!’^  he  added,  show- 
ing his  teeth,  but  with  nothing  whatever  of  fierceness  or  wild- 
ness in  his  grin. 

“ What  do  you  want?^^  I repeated. 

“ We  wantchee  you  come  speak  with  us.  We  allee  swear  on 
de  Koran  not  to  hurt  you  but  to  serve  you,  and  you  serve  we/^ 

1 stood  staring,  not  knowing  how  to  act. 

“ He  is  to  be  trusted,  said  Helga. 

“ But  the  others?^^  1 said. 

“ They  can  do  nothing  without  us.^^ 

“ Without  one  of  us.  But  the  others!^^ 

“We  may  trust  them,’^  she  repeated  with  an  accent  of  con 
viction. 

Nakier^s  eyes,  gleaming  in  the  lantern-light,  were  bent  upon 
us  as  we  whispered.  He  perceived  my  irresolution,  and,  once 
again  putting  down  the  bulPs-eye  lamp  on  the  deck,  he  clasped 
and  extended  his  hands  in  a posture  ol  impassioned  entreaty. 

“We  allee  swear  we  no  hurt  you!^^  he  cried  in  a voice  of 
soft  entreaty  that  was  absolutely  sweet  with  the  melody  of  its 
tones;  “ dat  beautiful  young  lady — oh!  1 would  kill  here,^^ 
ho  cried,  gesticulating  as  though  he  would  stab  his  heart,  “ be- 
fore dat  good,  kind,  clever  lady  be  harm.  Oh!  you  may  trust 
us!  We  hab  done  our  work.  Mr.  Wise,  he  be  capt^n;  you  be 
gentleman — passengaire;  you  live  upstair  and  be  very  much 
comfortable.  De  beautiful  young  lady,  she  conduct  dis  ship 
to  Afric.  Ob!  no,  no,  no!  you  are  allee  safe.  My  men  shall 
trow  down  dere  knives  upon  de  table  when  you  come,  and  we 
swear  on  de  Koran  to  be  your  friend,  and  you  be  friend  to  we.^^ 

“ Let^s  go  along  with  him,  Mr.  Tregartlien,'' said  Abraham. 
“ Nakier,  1 shall  stick  to  this  here  knife.  Whereas  moy  mate 
Jacob?  If  ’ere  a man  of  ye’s  hiirted  him — 

“ It  is  no  time  to  threaten,’^  I whispered,  angrily,  shoving 
past  him.  “ Come,  Ilelga!  Nakier,  pick  up  that  bullVeye 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAKT.  27S 

and  lead  the  way,  and,  Abraham,  follow  with  that  lantern, 
will  you?^^ 

lu  silence  we  gained  the  hatch.  It  lay  open.  Nakier  sprung 
through  it,  and,  one  after  the  other,  we  ascended.  The  wind 
had  fallen  scantier  since  I was  on  deck  last,  and  though  the 
loftier  canvas  was  asleep,  silent  as  carved  marble,  and  spread- 
ing in  spectral  wanness  under  the  bright  stars,  there  was  no 
weight  in  the  wind  to  hold  steady  the  heavy  folds  of  the  fore 
and  main  courses,  which  swung  in  and  out  with  the  dull  sound 
of  distant  artillery  as  the  bark  leaned  from  side  to  side.  The 
cuddy  lamp  was  brightly  burning,  and  the  first  glance  I sent 
through  the  open  door  showed  me  the  whole  of  the  crew,  as  I 
for  the  instant  supposed — though  I afterward  found  that  one 
of  them  was  at  the  wheel — standing  at  the  table,  ranged  on 
either  hand  of  it,  all  as  motionless  as  a company  of  soldiers 
drawn  up  on  parade.  Every  dark  face  was  turned  our  way, 
and  never  was  shipboard  picture  more  startling  and  impressive 
than  this  one  of  stirless  figures,  dusky  fiery  eyes,  knitted  brows, 
most  of  the  countenances  hideous,  but  all  various  in  their  ugli- 
ness. Their  caps  and  queer  headgear  lay  in  a heap  upon  the 
table.  Nakier  entered  and  paused,  with  a look  to  us  to  follow. 
Helga  was  fearlessly  pressing  forward.  I caught  her  by  the 
hand  and  cried  to  Nakier: 

Those  men  are  all  armed. 

He  rounded  upon  them,  and  uttered  some  swift  feverish 
sentence  in  his  native  tongue.  In  a moment  every  man  whip- 
ped out  his  knife  from  the  sheath  in  which  it  lay  buried  at  the 
hip,  and  placed  it  upon  the  table.  Nakier  again  spoke,  pro- 
nouncing the  words  with  a passionate  gesture,  on  which  Pun- 
meamootty  gathered  the  knives  into  one  of  the  caps  and  handed 
them  to  Nakier,  who  brought  the  cap  to  Helga  and  placed  it 
at  her  feet.  On  his  doing  this  Abraham  threw  the  blood- 
stained knife  he  held  into  the  cap. 

It  was  at  that  moment  we  were  startled  by  a cry  of  Be- 
low, there 

“ Whoy,  it^s  Jacob!^^  roared  Abraham,  and  stepping  back- 
ward and  looking  straight  up,  he  shouted,  “Jacob,  ahoy! 
Where  are  ye,  mate?^^ 

“ Up  in  the  maintop  pretty  nigh  dead,’^  came  down  the 
leather-lungeu  response  from  tlEie  silence  up  above. 

“ Thank  Gawd  youh^e  alive!'^  cried  Abraham.  “ It^s  all 
roight  now~il’s  all  roigbt  now.'^^ 

“ Who^s  a-going  to  make  me  believe  it?^'  cried  Jacob. 

1 stared  up,  and  fancied  1 could  just  perceive  the  black  nob 
of  his  head  projected  over  the  rim  of  the  top. 


276 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ You  can  come  down,  Jacob,^^  I cried.  ‘‘  All  danger,  1 
hope,  is  over.^^ 

“ Danger  over?^^  he  bawled.  “ Whoy,  theyVe  killed  the 
mate  and  chucked  him  overboard,  and  if  I hadn^t  taken  to  my 
heels  and  jumped  aloft  they’d  have  killed  me.” 

“No,  no — not  true;  not  true,  sah!”  shrieked  Nakier. 
“ Come  down,  Jacob!  It  is  allee  right!” 

“ Where’s  the  captain?”  cried  Jacob. 

“ Him  overboard!”  answered  Nakier.  “It  is  allee  right, 
I say!” 

A shudder  ran  through  me  as  I glanced  at  the  cabin  which 
the  captain  had  occupied.  I can  not  express  how  the  horror 
of  this  sudden,  shocking,  bloody  tragedy  was  heightened  by 
Nakier ’s  cool  and  easy  acceptance  of  the  deed,  as  though  the 
two  men  whom  he  and  his  had  slain  were  less  to  his  sympathies 
than  had  they  been  a couple  of  fowls  whose  necks  had  been 
wrung. 

“ Pray  come  down,  Jacob!”  said  Helga,  sending  her  voice 
clear  as  a bell  into  the  silent,  towering  heights.  “ You,  as 
well  as  Abraham,  are  to  be  known  as  an  Englishman.” 

This  little  scornful  stroke,  which  was  extremely  happy  in 
that  it  was  unintelligible  to  Nakier  and  the  others,  had  the 
desired  effect. 

“ Why,  if  it  is  all  right,  then  I suppose  it  le  all  right,”  I 
heard  Jacob  say,  and  a few  moments  after  his  figure,  with 
’longshore  clumsiness,  came  slowly  down  the  rigging. 

As  he  sprung  from  the  bulwark  rail  on  to  the  deck  he  whipped 
off  his  cap  and  dashed  it  down  on  to  the  planks,  and  with  the 
utmost  agitation  of  voice  and  manner,  danced  around  his  cap 
as  he  vociferated  while  he  flourished  his  fist  at  Abraham: 

“ Now,  what  did  Oi  say?  All  along  I’ve  been  a-telling  ye 
that  that  there  pork  job  was  a-going  to  get  our  throats  cut. 
Whoy  didn’t  ye  stop  it?  Whoy  didn’t  ye  tell  the  capt’n  what 
you  seed  and  knowed?  Freight!  Whoy,  I moight  ha’  died 
in  that  there  top  and  rolled  over  boards,  and  what  yarn  was  ye 
going  to  give  my  missis  as  to  my  bending,  if  so  be  as  ever  ye 
got  ashore  at  Deal  agin?” 

He  continued  to  shout  after  this  fashion,  meanwhile  tum- 
bling and  reeling  about  his  cap  as  though  it  were  a mark  for 
him  upon  the  theater  of  this  deck  on  which  to  act  his  part. 
But  though  it  appeared  a very  ecstasy  of  rage  in  him,  the  out- 
break seemed  wholly  due  to  revulsion  of  feeling.  Nakier  stood 
motionlessly  eying  liirn;  Ihe  others  also  remained  at  table,  all 
preserving  their  sentinel  postures.  At  last  the  fellow  made 
an  end,  put  his  cap  on,  and  was  silent,  breathing  hard. 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEARl'. 

you  come  in,  sah?  Will  you  enter,  lady?  Misser 
Wise,  it  is  allee  right.  Come  along,  Jacob,  my  mate!^^ 

Thus  saying,  Nakier  re-entered  the  cuddy,  and  the  four  of 
us  followed  him.  There  was  a dark  stain  on  the  bare  plank 
close  again^  the  coaming  or  ledge  of  the  door  of  the  captain^s 
cabin.  It  Was  the  short,  wild,  startled  sideways  spring  which 
Abraham  gave  that  caused  me  to  look  at  it.  The  very  soul 
within  me  seemed  to  shrink  at  the  sight.  Nakier  exclaimed: 

“ It  is  easy  to  scrape  out,^^  motioning  as  though  he  scraped 
with  his  little  delicately  shaped  hand.  He  then  addressed  one 
of  the  fellows  at  the  table,  who  nodded,  sweeping  the  air  with 
his  arm  as  he  did  so. 

It  now  occurred  to  me  with  the  marvelous  swiftness  of 
thought  that  the  cap  containing  the  men^s  knives  still  lay  upon 
the  deck  where  Nakier  had  lodged  it  at  Helga’s  feet,  and  the 
instant  motion  of  my  mind  was  to  return  to  the  quarter-deck, 
pick  the  cap  up,  and  heave  it  over  the  rail.  But  I reflected 
that  not  only  might  an  act  of  this  sort  enrage  the  crew  by  los- 
ing them  their  knives — it  would  also  imply  profound  distrust 
on  our  part.  I also  considered  that,  if  they  designed  to  kill 
us,  they  would  be  able  to  manage  that  business  very  well  with- 
out their  knives — for  there  was  the  carpenter’s  tool-chest  for- 
ward which  would  supply  them  with  plenty  of  deadly  weapons, 
not  to  mention  the  cabin  knives,  which  Punmeamootty  had 
charge  of,  and  of  which  several  were  at  all  times  to  be  found 
in  the  galley.  All  this  passed  through  my  mind  in  the  space 
that  a man  might  count  five  in,  so  amazing  is  the  velocity  of 
imagination;  and  my  resolution  was  formed  in  this  matter  even 
while  I continued  to  measure  the  few  steps  which  separated 
the  table  from  the  cuddy  door. 

Nakier  went  to  the  head  of  the  table,  and,  putting  his  hand 
upon  the  captain’s  chair,  exclaimed,  bowing  with  inimitable 
grace  to  Helga  as  he  spoke: 

Will  de  sweet  mees  sit  here?” 

She  passed  along  the  little  file  of  five  men  and  took  the 
chair.  I do  not  know  whether  she  had  seen  that  mark  on  the 
deck  I have  spoken  of.  She  was  of  a death-like  whiteness,  but 
her  eyes  shone  spiritedly  as  she  ran  them  over  the  colored  faces 
of  the  queer  figures  erect  on  either  hand  the  table,  and  never 
at  any  time  since  the  hour  when  the  dawn  showed  me  her 
pretty  face  aboard  the  “ Anine,”  appareled  as  she  then  was 
as  a boy,  had  I observed  more  composure  and  resolution  in  her 
countenance. 

I stood  close  beside  her,  and  Abraham  and  his  mate  were  on 
her  right.  Nakier  went  on  gliding  feet  to  the  fore-end  of  the 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


m 

table  and  said  somethiiig  to  the  men.  What  language  he  ex- 
pressed himself  in  1 did  not  then,  and  still  do  not,  know.  The 
effect  of  his  speech  was  to  cause  the  whole  of  them  to  extend 
their  arms  toward  us  with  the  forefingers  of  both  hands  to- 
gether. The  posture,  for  the  moment,  was  absolutely  as 
though  lo  Nakier^s  command  they  had  simultaneously  leveled 
firearms  at  us!  Jacob  fell  back  a step  with  a growl  of  alarm. 

“ What  is  all  this,  Nakier?^^  1 called  out. 

“ It  is  to  say  we  are  all  your  brodders,  sah.  It  is  my  coun- 
try sign  of  friendship.^’ 

Their  hands  fell  to  their  sides,  but  immediately  afterward 
Nakier  spoke  again  to  them,  whereupon  every  man  leveled  his 
forefingers,  as  before,  at  Helga.  Again  Nakier  spoke,  and 
Punmeamootty  left  the  cuddy. 

I wish  he’d  talk  English,”  exclaimed  Abraham,  wiping 
his  forehead.  “ Who’s  to  know  what’s  a-going  to  happen?” 

It  is  allee  right,  Misser  Wise,”  said  Nakier,  with  a soft 
smile,  half  of  reproach,  half  of  encouragement.  “ Punmea- 
mootty hab  gone  to  fetch  de  Koran  for  we  to  swear  to  be  true 
and  not  harm  you.” 


CHAPTER  XXIIL 

A CONFERENCE. 

There  was  now  a pause.  How  am  I to  convey  the  dramatic 
character  of  this  interval  of  silence?  The  hush  of  the  night 
worked  liked  a spirit  in  the  vessel,  and  the  silence  seemed  to  be 
deepened  rather  than  disturbed  by  the  dull,  pinion-like  beat 
of  the  mainsail  swinging  into  the  mast,  by  the  occasional  creak 
breaking  forth  from  some  slightly  strained  bulkhead,  and  by 
the  half-muffled  gurgling  of  some  little  lift  of  dark  water  lav- 
ing the  bark’s  side.  I could  witness  no  temper  in  the  men. 
Wherever  there  lay  a scowl,  it  was  no  more  than  a part  of  the 
creature’s  make.  Their  faces  were  by  this  time  familiar  to  me, 
and  I could  not  mistake.  Custom  had  even  diminished  some- 
thing of  the  fierceness,  and  I may  say  the  hideousness,  of  the 
lemon-colored  man,  whose  corrugated  brow  and  savage  eyes 
had  been  among  the  earliest  details  of  this  ship  to  attract  my  at- 
tention on  boarding  her.  Yet  with  the  memory  in  me  of  what 
had  just  now  been  enacted — with  thoughts  in  me  of  two  corpses 
scarcely  yet  cold  sinking,  still  sinking,  at  but  a little  distance 
from  the  vessel — these  men  opposed  a horribly  formidable  array 
of  countenances  to  the  gaze.  Their  various  dyes  of  complexion 
were  deepened  by  the  lantern  light;  the  grotesque  character  of 


3IY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


279 


their  attire  seemed  to  intensify  their  tragic  appearance.  Their 
figures  were  as  motionless  as  though  they  were  acting  the  part 
as  statues  in  a stage  representation.  At  intervals  one  or  an- 
other would  look  to  right  or  left,  but  in  the  main  their  eyes  were 
directed  our  way,  and  were  chiefly  fixed  upon  Helga. 

Jacob  stared  as  though  in  a dream;  Abraham,  with  his  under- 
jaw hanging  loose,  appeared  to  be  fascinated  by  Nakier.  I 
longed  to  plunge  into  this  silence,  so  to  speak,  to  expend  in 
speech  and  questions  the  emotions  which  were  keeping  my  heart 
fiercely  beating;  but  I was  held  dumb  by  the  notion  that  this 
stillness  was  a part  of  the  solemnities  which  were  to  be  employed 
for  the  protection  of  our  lives. 

Punmeamootty  re-entered  the  cuddy  holding  a book.  Nakier 
took  it  from  him,  and  turning  round  to  us  said: 

“ Look,  lady!  look,  sah!  You  see  dis  is  de  Koran  — 1 ob- 
served that  he  sometimes  said  de  and  sometimes  it  is  our 

religion.  We  swear  upon  it.  Look,  to  make  sure!’^ 

I received  the  volume  and  examined  it.  It  was  a manuscript 
bound  in  leather,  with  a fiap,  and  very  elegantly  ornamented 
on  the  sides  and  back  with  some  sort  of  devices  in  gold  and 
color.  The  writing  was  in  red,  and  every  page  was  margined 
with  a finely  ruled  red  line.  What  tongue  it  was  written*  in  1 
could  not,  of  course,  tell.  I have  since  supposed  it  was  in 
Arabic;  but  for  us  it  might  as  well  have  been  the  Talmud  as 
the  Koran.  1 returned  the  book  to  Nakier. 

“ It  is  allee  right,  you  see,  sah,^  he  exclaimed,  showing  his 
wonderfully  white  teeth  in  a smile  of  gentle,  respectful  con- 
gratulation that  put  a deeper  glow  into  his  eyes  and  gave  a 
new  beauty  to  his  handsome  features, 

“ It  may  be  the  Koran,^^  said  L “I  can  not  tell.  I will 
take  your  word.^’ 

He  turned  to  the  men,  and,  with  a passionate  gesticulation, 
addressed  them;  on  which  they  shouted  out  all  as  one  man: 
“ Yaas!  yaas!  Al- Koran!  Al-Koran!^^ — 'nodding  and  point- 
ing and  writhing  and  working  with  excess  of  Asiatic  contortion. 

‘‘  We  are  quite  content,  said  I. 

Nakier  withdrew  to  his  end  of  the  table,  carrying  the  book 
with  him.  He  stood  erect,  blending  the  grace  of  a reposing 
dancer  with  an  air  of  reserved  eagerness  and  enthusiasm. 

Lady  and  you,  sah!^^  he  exclaimed,  while  every  dusky  eye 
along  the  table  was  fixed  intently  upon  him,  ‘‘  you  sabbee  why 
we  kill  de  capt^n  and  Misser  Jones?  Them  two  bad  men— 
them  two  wicked,  shocking  men.  They  would  make  we  poor 
Mussulmans  sin,  and  would  send  we  to  hell.  And  why? 
Pey  not  care  at  heart  our  soul  for  to  save.  We  came  here  for 


280 


Mi:  da:nisu  sweetheart. 


work:  we  gib  dem  dis  for  dere  money — he  elevated  hia 
clinched  hands,  and  then  gesticulated  as  though  he  pulled  and 
hauled — ‘‘  not  dis,  which  is  Allah’s/"  striking  his  breast 
vehemently;  by  which,  1 presume,  he  signified  his  spirit  or 
conscience. 

A rumbling  murmur  ran  round  the  table.  1 should  not 
have  supposed  the  fellows  understood  the  man;  but  acqui- 
escence was  strong  in  every  tawny  face,  and  a universal  nod 
followed  when  he  struck  his  bosom. 

“ We  not  all  Malay,’’  he  continued,  “ but  we  are  all  men, 
lady.  We  hab  feeling — we  hab  hunger;  we  drink  and  cry 
and  laugh  like  you  all  who  are  white  and  do  not  believe  in  de 
prophet.  We  have  killed  dose  two  shocking  wicked  men,  and 
we  are  not  sorry.  No;  it  is  justice!”  he  added,  with  a sud- 
den piercing  rise  in  his  melodious  voice,  and  a flash  of  the  eye 
that  was  emphasized  somewhat  alarmingly  by  an  unconscious 
clutch  of  his  hand  at  the  empty  sheath  strapped  to  his  hip. 
But  his  manner  instantly  softened,  and  his  voice  sweetened 
again,  though  his  behavior  seemed,  while  it  lasted,  to  exercise 
an  almost  electrical  influence  over  his  people.  They  fluttered 
and  swayed  to  it  like  ears  of  wheat  brushed  by  a wind,  dart- 
ing looks  at  one  another  and  at  us.  But  this  ceased  on  Nakier 
resuming  his  former  air. 

“ Dis  ship,”  said  he,  “ is  boun’  to  Table  Bay.  Some  of 
us  belong  to  Cape  Town.  Allee  want  to  get  to  Afric,  and 
dem  as  not  belong  to  Cape  Town  ship  for  dere  own  country. 
But  dis  ship  must  not  steer  for  Cape  Town.  When  we  arrive, 
it  is  asked,  ‘Where  is  de  capt’n?  Where  is  Misser  Jones?’ 
and  we  must  not  tell,”  said  he,  smiling. 

“ But  where  do  you  wish  to  go  to,  then?”  said  I,  almost 
oppressed  by  the  sudden  simultaneous  turning  of  the  men’s 
dark,  fiery  eyes  upon  me. 

“Near  to  Cape  Town,”  said  he. 

“ But  what  do  you  call  near  to  Cape  Town?”  1 asked. 

“ Oh,  dere  will  be  a river — we  find  him.  We  anchor  and 
go  ashore  and  walkee,  walkee,”  he  exclaimed. 

llelga  gave  a little  start. 

“ What  you  and  vour  mates  want  is  that  we  should  put  ye 
ashore  somewhere?”  said  Abraham. 

“ Yaas,  dat’s  so,”  called  the  fellow  named  Pallumippa- 
chelly. 

“No,  no!”  cried  Nakier,  “not  somewhere,  Misser  Vise. 
Near  Cape  Town,  I say.  Not  too  far  for  we  to  walkee.” 

“ Bub  to  set  ye  ashore,  anyhow?^^  exclaimed  AbrahaxUt 
The  man  podded^ 


MY  BAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


281 


“ I suppose  you  know^  Nakier/^  said  I,  with  a sense  of  dis- 
may pressing  like  a weight  upon  my  spirits,  “ that  this  young 
lady  and  I wish  to  return  home?  The  captain  refused  to  part 
with  us — he  insisted  on  carrying  us  with  him — we  have  a home 
to  return  to.  Surely  you  do  not  intend  that  we  should  make 
the  passage  to  the  Cape  in  this  bark?^^ 

‘‘  Who  will  nabigate  de  ship?^^  said  Nakier. 

“ Why,  Mr.  Wise  will,^^  1 exclaimed,  turning  upon  the 
boatman. 

“ Bio  wed,  then,  if  I dew!^^  cried  Abraham,  recoiling. 

What!  along  with  these — arter  what^s — ^soides,  J don't 
know  nothen  about  longitude. 

“ For  mercy^s  sake,  man,  don^t  talk  like  that!^^  cried  1. 

Miss  Nielsen  and  1 must  be  transshiped.^^ 

“ So  must  Oi!^^  said  Abraham. 

‘‘  And  Oi!^^  hoarsely  shouted  Jacob. 

“ What  ees  it  you  say?^^  exclaimed  Nakier,  smiling. 

Why,  that  we  all  of  us  wish  to  get  aboard  another  vessel, 
said  I,  ‘‘and  leave  this  bark  in  your  hands  to  do  whatever 
yoq  like  with. 

There  was  a sharp  muttering  of  “ No,  no!’^  with  some 
fierce  shaking  of  heads  on  either  side  the  table.  Nakier 
made  a commanding  gesture  and  uttered  a few  words  in  his 
own  tongue.  “ We  must  not  speakee  any  ship,  lady,  and 
you,  sah,  and  you,  Misser  Vise,  and  Jacob,  my  mate.  Can 
not  you  tell  why?^^ 

“ If  you^re  going  to  keep  us  here  for  fear  of  our  peach- 
ing,cried  Abraham,  “ there^s  me  for  wan  as  is  ready 
to  take  moy  oath  that  1^11  say  nothen  about  what^s  happened, 
purwiding  you  safely  set  us  aboard  another  wessel.^^ 

Nakier  strained  his  ear,  wiih  a puzzled  face.  The  language 
of  Deal  was  happily  unintelligible  to  him,  for  which  I was  ex- 
ceedingly grateful,  since  nothing  could  be  more  imperiling 
than  such  talk  as  this.  Helga,  who  all  this  while  remained 
silent,  seated  in  her  chair,  without  lifting  her  eyes  to  my  face 
or  turning  her  head,  said  softly,  in  little  more  than  a whisper, 
so  that  only  I,  who  stood  at  her  shoulder,  could  catch  her  ac- 
cents, “ You  can  see  by  their  faces,  Hugh,  that  they  are  re- 
solved. All  this  has  been  preconcerted.  Their  plans  are 
formed,  and  they  mean  to  have  their  way.  We  must  seem 
to  consent.  Let  us  agree,  that  they  may  take  the  oath,  other 
wise  our  lives  are  not  worth  more  than  the  captain^s  or  the 
maters. 

Nakier’s  glowing  eyes  were  upon  her,  but,  though  the  move- 
pients  of  her  lips  might  have  been  visible^  it  would  seeisi  to 


282 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHKART. 


iliem  as  tliouglishe  wliisper'ju  to  hci  selL  The  conviction  that 
fciho  was  absoiiitely  right  in  her  advice  came  to  me  with  her 
words.  I needed  bui  to  glau  ce  at  the  double  line  of  deter- 
mined faces  to  gather  that  aigunieut,  that  even  hesitation 
would  merely  result  in  speedily  enraging  the  fellows;  that  they 
were  not  to  be  inllueiiced  by  the  most  reasonable  of  our  wiches; 
that  our  lives  had  been  spared  in  order  that  we  should  con- 
voy them  to  a place  of  safety;  and  this,  too,  I saw  with  the 
help  of  the  illumination  supplied  by  Helga’s  few  words — that, 
fully  believing  the  girl  qualified  to  navigate  the  vessel,  they 
might,  if  we  provoked  them,  destroy  the  three  of  us  and  retain 
her,  counting  upon  their  threats  and  her  situation  to  achieve 
their  ends. 

1 said  in  a hurried  aside  to  the  boatmen:  “ Not  a word, 
now,  from  either  of  you!  This  must  be  left  to  me!  If  you 
interfere,*'  your  blood  will  be  on  your  own  heads!’*  Then, 
addressing  Nakier: 

“ Your  demands  are  these:  the  bark  is  to  be  navigated  to 
some  part  of  the  South  African  coast  lying  near  to  Table 
Bay?” 

“ Yaas,  sah!”  he  answered,  holding  up  one  finger  as  though 
counting. 

‘‘The  spot  you  wish  to  arrive  at  will  have  to  be  pointed 
out  on  the  chart!” 

Up  went  a second  finger,  followed  by  another.  “Yaas, 
sah!” 

“ We  are  not  to  communicate  with  passing  ships?” 

“ Eight,  sail!”  he  added,  nodding  and  smiling,  and  rais- 
ing a third  finger. 

“ And  then?”  said  1. 

“ Den,”  said  he,  “ you  swear  to  do  dis  and  v/e  swear  by  de 
Koran  to  be  true,  and  to  serve  you,  and  be  your  friend.” 

“ And  if  w''8  refuse?”  said  i. 

“ Do  not  say  it!”  he  cried,  sweeping  his  hands  forward 
though  to  repel  the  idea. 

“ There  must  be  other  coiiditions!”  said  I,  talking  with  an 
air  of  resolution  which,  I fear,  v/as  but  poorly  simulated, 
“ First,  as  to  the  aecominodation?” 

“ I do  not  understand!”  said  Nakier. 

“ I m(‘an  where  are  wo  io  live?”  1 cried. 

“Oh,  here!  oh,  here!”  he  elioutcd,  motioning  round  the 
cuddy;  “ dis  is  your  room.  Km  man  of  us  come  here.” 

“And  here  1 stop,  lew,”  said  Abraham.  “No  more  of 
your  foreeastio  for  me,  malec!” 

“ Nor  for  mol”  rumbled  Jacob. 


MY  DAlyriSH  SWEETHEART. 


383 


**  Do  not  say  sol^^  exclaimed  Helga,  turning  hastily  to  ad- 
dress them.  “ Be  advised.  Do  not  interfere.  Let  Mr.  Tre- 
garthen  have  his  way. 

“ And  1 suppose/^  I continued,  running  my  eyes  over  the 
rows  of  faces  till  they  settled  on  Nakier,  “ that  we  shall  be 
waited  upon  as  usual,  and  that  we  shall  be  as  well  cared  for 
as  when  Captain  Bunting  was  alive?’^ 

“ Yaas,  sah!  yaas,  sah!’^  said  Nakier  demonstratively,  and 
Punmeamootty  shouted:  “ Me  wait  allee  same  upon  you  and 
de  sweet  lady.  Me  sabbee  what  you  like.  Me  get  dem  room 
ready,^^  pointing  to  the  maters  and  the  captain^s  cabins. 

I shook  my  head  with  a shudder,  then  said  softly  to  Helga, 
whose  gaze  was  bent  on  the  table:  ‘‘  Canyon  suggest  any  thing 
further  for  me  to  say  to  them?'^ 

‘‘  Nothing.  Get  them  to  take  their  oath,  Hugh.^^ 
“Nakier!^^  1 exclaimed,  “we  consent  to  your  proposals. 
Among  us  we  will  navigate  this  ship  for  you.  But  first  you 
and  your  mates  will  swear  by  that  Koran  in  which  you  believe 
— 1 suppose  it  is  the  Koran — 

“ Oh,  yaas,  yaas!^^  he  cried,  and  there  was  a general  chorus 
of  “ yaases.-’’ 

“ You  must  swear  by  that  sacred  book  of  yours  not  to  harm 
us;  to  be  our  friends;  to  serve  us  and  do  our  bidding  as 
though  we  were  oflScers  of  this  ship.  Explain  this  to  your 
men,  and  let  them  take  the  oath  in  theirs  and  your  country's 
fashion,  and  we  shall  be  satisfied.*’’ 

On  this  he  addressed  them.  I hear  now  his  melodious  voice 
and  witness  his  animated,  handsome  face  as  he  poured  forth 
his  rich,  unintelligible  syllables.  It  was  diflficult  to  look  at  the 
fellow  and  not  believe  that  he  was  some  prince  of  his  own 
nation.  There  was  nothing  in  his  scarecrow  clothes  to  impair 
the  dignity  of  his  mien  and  the  grace  of  his  motions.  I could 
conceive  of  him  as  a species  of  man-serpent  capable  of  fascinat- 
ing and  paralyzing  with  his  marvelous  eyes,  holding  his  victim 
motionless  till  he  should  choose  to  strike.  His  influence  over 
the  others  was  manifestly  supreme,  and  1 had  no  doubt  what- 
ever that  the  tragedy  which  had  been  enacted  was  his  and 
wholly  his  by  the  claim  of  creation  and  command.  While  he 
talked  I would  here  and  there  mark  a dingy  face  with  a look 
of  expostulation  in  it.  The  lamp  swinging  fairly  over  the  table 
yielded  light  enough  to  reveal  expressions.  When  he  had 
ceased  there  was  a little  hubbub  of  voices,  a running  growl, 
so  to  speak,  of  discontent.  One  cried  out  to  him,  and  then 
another,  and  then  a third,  but  in  notes  of  expostulation  rather 
than  temper. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


t^4: 

Helga,  without  turning  her  head,  said  tome,  “ I expect  they 
wish  us  to  swear  too.  Your  bare  assurance  does  not  satisfy 
thein.^’ 

The  guess  seemed  a shrewd  one,  and  highly  probable,  but 
the  men’s  talk  was  sheer  Hebrew  to  the  four  of  us.  Nakier 
listened,  darting  looks  from  side  to  side,  then  suddenly  lifted 
both  his  hands  in  the  most  dramatic  posture  of  denunciation 
that  could  be  imagined,  and  hissed  some  word  to  them,  where- 
upon every  man  fell  as  silent  as  though  he  had  been  shot. 
He  picked  up  the  volume  and  extended  it  to  the  fellow  next 
him. 

“ Takee,  takee,”  he  cried,  speaking  that  we  might  under- 
stand. ‘‘  Lady,  and  you,  sah,  Misser  Vise  and  Jacob  my  mate, 
dis  is  de  Mussulman  oath  we  men  now  take.  I speak  not  well 
your  language,  but  dis  is  my  speech  in  English  of  what  you 
shall  hear.”  Then,  composing  his  countenance  and  turning 
up  his  eyes  till  nothing  gleamed  but  the  whites  of  them  in  his 
dark  visage,  ho  exclaimed  in  a profoundly  devotional  tone  and 
in  accents  as  melodious  as  singing: 

“ In  de  name  of  Allah  de  most  merciful,  and  de  good  Lord 
of  all  things,  if  break  dis  oath  do  I,  den,  oh,  Allah,  may  1 
go  to  hell!” 

He  paused,  then  turned  to  the  man  who  held  the  volume, 
who  forthwith  held  the  book  at  arm’s-length  above  his  head 
and  pronounced  in  his  native  tongue  what  we  might  suppose 
the  oath  that  Nakier  had  essayed  to  make  English  of.  This 
done,  the  book  was  handed  to  the  next  man,  and  so  it  went 
round,  all  in  dead  silence,  broken  only  by  the  strange,  wildly 
solemn  accents  of  the  oath-taker,  and  I noticed  that  the  glit- 
tering eyes  of  Nakier  rested  upon  every  man  as  he  swore,  as 
though  he  constrained  him  to  take  the  vow  by  his  gaze. 

Abraham  and  his  mate  looked  on  with  open  mouths,  breath- 
ing deeply.  The  book  came  to  Nakier.  He  was  about  to  lift 
it,  paused,  and  spoke  to  the  fierce-looking  fellow  that  was 
called  Ong  Kew  Ho,  who  immediately  glided  out  of  the  cabin 
— none  of  these  men  seemed  to  walk:  the  motion  of  their  legs 
resembled  that  of  skaters.  1 was  wondering  what  was  to  hap- 
pen next,  when  the  fellow  who  had  been  stationed  at  the  wheel 
arrived.  Nakier  addressed  him.  Immediately  he  extended 
his  arms  and  leveled  his  forefingers  at  us  as  the  others  had; 
then  elevated  the  book  and  recited  the  oath. 

“ All  this  looks  very  honest,”  1 whispered  to  Helga. 

Then  Nakier  took  the  oath,  handed  the  volume  to  a man,  and 
said  something.  Instantly  every  man’s  arms  were  pointed  at 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  286 

US,  wiili  the  index  finger  touching,  and  a minute  later  all  the 
men,  saving  Nakier,  had  quitted  the  cabin. 

“You  see,  lady,  it  is  allee  right,  said  he,  smiling. 

“ Yes,  we  are  satisfied, she  exclaimed,  rising  from  her 
chair;  but  her  eyes  caught  the  stain  on  the  deck;  an  expression 
of  horror  worked  in  her  face  like  a spasm,  and  she  brought  her 
hand  to  her  breast  with  a half-stified  exclamation. 

“ When  day  come,^’  said  Nakier,  addressing  Helga,  “ we 
look  at  de  chart  and  find  out  de  place  for  you  to  steer  we  to.^^ 

His  bearing  was  still  full  of  Eastern  grace  and  courtesy.  No 
expression  entered  his  face  to  deform  its  beauty;  yet  somehow 
I seemed  sensible  of  a subtle  spirit  or  quality  of  command  in 
the  fellow,  as  though  he  was  now  disguising  his  sense  of  power 
and  possession  with  difficulty.  It  was  clear  that  he  looked  to 
Helga  mainly,  if  not  wholly,  for  what  was  to  be  done  for  them. 

“ You  shall  point  out  the  spot  you  have  in  your  mind,^^  said 
she. 

“You  sabbee  uabigation,  sweet  lady?^^ 

“ Among  us,^^  she  answered,  with  a motion  of  her  hand 
that  comprehended  the  two  boatmen  and  myself,  “ we  shall  be 
able  to  do  all  you  require. 

He  made  a sort  of  salaam  to  her,  and  said,  looking  at  Abra- 
ham, “ Who  keep  de  watch?"^ 

“ Whose  watch  on  deck  is  it?^^  I asked. 

“ The  starboard’s — moine,’^  answered  Abraham,  with  an 
uneasy  shuffling  of  his  feet. 

“ Allee  right,  Mr.  Vise;  allee  right!  It  is  veree  fine  night. 
I go  now  to  sleep,”  said  Nakier,  arid  he  went  in  his  sliding, 
spirit-like  fashion  to  the  cuddy  door,  and  vanished  in  the  black- 
ness on  the  quarter-deck. 

The  four  of  us  stood  grouped  at  the  head  of  that  little  table, 
staring  at  one  another.  Now  that  the  colored  crew  were  gone, 
a sense  of  the  unreality  of  what  had  happened  possessed  me. 
It  was  like  starting  from  a nightmare,  with  the  reason  in  one 
slowly  dominating  the  horror  raised  by  the  hideous  phantas- 
magoria of  sleep. 

“ We  must  not  seem  to  be  standing  here  as  though  we  were 
planning  and  plotting,”  exclaimed  Helga.  “ Dark  figures  out 
in  that  shadow  there  are  watching  us.” 

“ That’s  right  enough,  miss,”  said  Abraham;  “ but  what’s 
to  be  done?” 

“Here  stands  a man,”  cried  Jacob,  hotly,  striking  his 
breast,  “ as  dorn’t  mean  for  to  be  carried  to  the  Cape  in  a 
bloomin’  wessel  full  o’  bloody  savages;  and  that’s  speaking 
straight.  ” 


286 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


“ Hush!^^  cried  1.  Soften  those  leather  Innge  of  youre, 
will  you?^^ 

“ Ain^t  there  no  firearms  knocking  about?^^  said  Abraham. 

“I  hope  not,  said  Helga;  “we  shall  be  able  to  manage 
without  firearms/^ 

I looked  at  her  white  face  but  resolute  mouth  and  steady, 
spirited  blue  gaze. 

“ What  is  in  your  mind,  Helga?^^ 

“ An  idea  not  yet  formed,^^  she  answered.  “ Give  me  time 
to  think.  I believe  that  not  only  are  our  lives  to  be  saved  but 
the  vessel  too!'^ 

“ Ha!^^  cried  Abraham,  with  a thirsty  look.  “ It  needs  a 
sailor^s  lass  to  get  such  a fancy  as  that  into  her  head!  Fm  a 
cockney  if  I don^t  seem  to  see  a salwage  job  here!^^ 

But  Jacob  was  staring  at  us  gloomily. 

“ What  I says  is  this,^^  he  exclaimed,  addressing  us  with  his 
fists  clinched:  “Here  be  three  Englishmen  and  a gal  with 
the  heart  of  two  men  in  her  — “Softly!^^  1 interposed — 
“ with  the  heart  of  two  men  in  her  he  continued,  with  a 
shake  of  his  fist;  “ and  what^s  forward?  He-leven  whisps  of 
colored  yarn!  He-leven  liefiigies,  with  backbones  separately 
to  be  broke  like  ihis!^^  He  crooked  his  knee,  and  made  as  if 
he  were  breaking  a stick  across  it.  “ Are  we,^^  he  cried,  with 
the  blood  mounting  to  his  face  and  an  expression  of  wrath 
sparkling  in  his  eyes— “ are  we  lower — three  men  and  a young 
lady — to  quietly  sit  down  and  wait  to  be  murdered,  or  are  we 
to  handle  ^em  as  if  they  was  a pack  of  apes,  to  be  swept  below 
and  smothered  under  hatches  as  a breeze  o^  wind  ^ud  blow  a 
coil  of  smoke  along?^^ 

“ Lower  you  voice,  man!^^  1 whispered.  “ What  do  you 
want — to  court  the  death  that  you  bolted  aloft  to  escape?^^ 

“ What^s  to  prevent  us,^^  he  continued,  mufiding  his  tone, 
though  the  fierceness  of  his  temper  hissed  in  every  breath  he 
expelled — “ whaFs  to  prevent  us  a-doing  this?  Moreen  than 
tlie  watch  are  below;  three  or  fower  may  be  on  deck.  Ain^t 
tlie  scuttle  forrads  to  be  clapped  down  over  the  forecastle, 
whoi  e they  lie  safe  as  if  they  was  at  the  bottom  of  a well  a 
hujidred  foot  deep?  Ain^t  that  to  be  done?  And  if  the  three 
or  fower  that^s  knocking  about  on  deck  aren^t  to  be  handled 
by  us  three  men — good-noight!^^ 

He  rounded  his  back  upon  us  in  sheer  contempt  of  passion. 

“Wo  may  do  better  than  that/^  said  Helga. 

“You're  for  supposing  that  they  aiiFt  going  to  keep  a 
bright  lookout,  mate,^^  said  Abraham.  “ See  here!  What^s 
good  to  be  done,  those  here  hands  you'll  find  equal  to,"  smiting 


MY  DAKISH  SWEETHEAHT, 

first  his  left  then  his  right  knuckles;  but  s^elp  me  Moses 
I^m  not  here  to  be  killed.  Them  chaps  are  born  knife-stickers. 
Touch  one,  and  you^re  groaning  at  your  length  on  deck  with 
a mortal  wound  in  your  witals.  And  if  what  we  do  ainT  com- 
plete— if  so  be  as  they^re  wan  too  many  for  us — and  it^s  eleven 
to  three,  remember  that,  mate — what^s  to  happen?  Ask  your- 
self the  question!  For  the  lady^s  sake,  I^m  for  all  caution. 

‘^We  must  not  remain  debating  here, said  1.  “They 
believe  us  sincere.  There  are  eyes  watching  us,  as  Miss  Niel- 
sen says.  This  holding  a counsel  is  not  going  to  reassure  them. 
If  you  object  to  keeping  a lookout,  Abraham,  1^11  take 
charge. 

“I  will  keep  you  company,  Hugh,^^  said  Helga. 

“ No,  no!^^  cried  Abraham.  “ It^s  moy  watch,  and  Oi’ll 
keep  it.^^ 

He  went  clumsily,  and  with  a bewildered  manner,  to  the 
companion  steps. 

“ 1^11  remain  along  wi^  ye,  Abey,^^  said  Jacob.  “ Arter 
what  I saw  as  I stood  at  the  wheel — the  poor  chapes  cry — the 
way  they  chucked  him  overboard — He  buried  his  eyes 
in  his  coat-sleeve.  “ The  cussed  murderers he  exclaimed, 
lifting  his  face,  and  looking  savagely  around. 

“ Come!^^  cried  Abraham,  “ if  ye  mean  to  come!  What^s 
your  temper  a-going  to  do  for  us?^^ 

“ 1^11  relieve  you  at  four  o^clock,^^  said  1,  looking  at  the 
time-piece,  the  hands  of  which  stood  at  a quarter  before  two. 

The  men  went  on  deck,  and,  turning  down  the  lamp — for  the 
revelation  of  the  light  served  as  a violent  irritant  to  the  nerves 
on  top  of  the  fancy  of  the  secret,  fiery-eyed  observation  of  us 
without — I seated  myself  beside  Helga  on  a locker  to  whisper 
and  to  think. 

The  girl  and  I had  passed  though  some  evil,  dark,  and  dan- 
gerous hours  since  we  first  came  together  in  that  furious  Sat- 
urday night’s  gale;  but  never  was  the  worst  of  them  all  com- 
parable to  this  middle  watch  through  which  we  sat,  for  hard 
upon  two  hours  of  it,  in  gloom,  in  the  ocean  silence  that  lay 
upon  the  bark,  imagining  the  movement  of  dark  shapes  in  the 
blackness  that  came  like  a wall  to  the  cabin  door,  and  the 
gleam  of  swiftly  recoiling  eyes  peering  at  us  through  the  cabin 
skylight.  Regularly  through  the  stillness  sounded  the  com- 
bined tread  of  Abraham  and  his  mate  over  our  heads,  with 
sometimes  a halt  that  almost  startled  the  ear,  while  we  could 
clearly  catch  the  rumbling  growling  of  their  conversation  as 
they  passed  the  skylight  on  their  way  to  and  fro. 

Yet,  strangely  enough — I am  speaking  for  myself — the  horror 


288 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


of  the  double  assassination  did  not  lie  upon  my  spirit  with  the 
deadening  weight  I should  have  imagined  as  the  effect  of  so 
shocking,  sudden,  and  bloody  a tragedy.  That  which  might 
have  been  acute  horror  was  subdued  into  little  more  than  a 
dull  and  sickening  consternation  by  perception  of  our  own 
peril.  Yet  I would  look  at  those  berths  lying  on  either  side 
the  cuddy  front  as  though  from  either  one  or  the  other  of 
them  the  figure  of  the  captain  or  his  mate  must  stalk!  The 
stain  upon  the  cabin  deck  lay  black  as  ink  against  the  captain^s 
door.  Oh!  to  think  that  that  was  all  of  him  his  bark  now 
contained! 

We  sat  whispering  about  the  unhappy  creature  and  his 
wretched  subordinate;  then  our  talk  went  to  other  matters.  I 
told  Helga  we  need  not  question  that  the  intention  of  the 
crew  was  to  cast  the  vessel  away  upon  some  part  of  the  South 
African  coast,  near  enough  to  Cape  Town  to  enable  them  to 
trudge  the  distance,  but  too  remote  from  civilization  for  the 
movements  of  the  bark  to  be  witnessed.  That  was  their  resolu- 
tion, I said:  I would  swear  to  it  as  though  it  had  been  revealed 
to  me.  That  they  would  never  suffer  us  three  men  to  land 
alive  we  might  be  as  sure  as  that  they  had  slaughtered  Bunting 
and  his  mate. 

“ Their  oath  counts  for  nothing,  you  think said  she. 

I answered  nothing;  they  would  value  their  lives  above  their 
oath.  Not  likely  they  would  suffer  us  to  testify  to  their  crime. 
Under  the  serpent-fair  exterior  of  Nakier  lay  as  passionless  a 
capacity  of  murder  as  ever  formed  the  mechanical  instinct  of 
any  deadly  beast  or  reptile. 

‘‘  His  eye/^  I said,  “ will  never  be  off  us.^^  Even  as  we 
whispered,  his  gaze  or  that  of  another  subtle  as  himself  might 
be  upon  us.  He  was  the  one  to  fear,  and  this  carried  me  into 
asking,  “ What  is  to  be  done?^^ 

Yet  before  the  hands  of  the  clock  were  upon  the  hour  of 
four  we  knew  what  was  to  be  done.  It  was  wholly  Helga^s 
scheme.  Her  little  brain  had  planned  it  all,  but  it  was  not 
until  she  spoke  and  delivered  her  plot  bit  by  bit  that  I under- 
stood the  reason  of  her  silence  while  I had  been  feverishly  whis- 
pering my  fears,  talking  of  the  captain,  of  Nakier,  of  the 
treachery  of  the  Malay  and  Cingalese  miscreants,  and  asking, 
as  one  might  think  aloud,  “ What  is  to  be  done?’^ 

We  went  on  deck  at  four;  it  was  the  darkest  hour  of  the 
night,  but  very  quiet.  I bade  Abraham  and  Iho  other  man 
go  forward  and  turn  in  as  had  heretofore  been  their  custom. 

“ Not  a word!^^  I cried,  in  swift  response  to  the  first  of 
Jacobis  remonstrances.  “ 1 can  not  speak  here.  There  are 


MY  BAKISH  SWEETHEART. 


289 


thirsty  ears  at  the  wheel.  We  have  planned  that  long  before 
this  time  to-morrow  the  bark  shall  be  our  own,  with  nothing 
more  for  you  to  do  than  to  calculate  the  value  of  the  salvage. 
VU  find  an  early  chance  to  explain — but  not  here!  not  now! 
Forward  with  you  both,  for  our  lives  depend  upon  the  fellows 
believing  that  we  have  confidence  in  them.^^ 

This  I spoke  as  rapidly  as  intelligibility  would  permit,  and, 
with  Helga,  drew  away  from  them,  moving  toward  the  wheel. 
They  hung  as  though  staring  and  deliberating  a few  moments, 
then,  without  a word,  went  forward. 

I spoke  pleasantly  to  the  fellow  at  the  helm— what  man  it 
was  I could  not  see — said  that  the  vesseFs  course  was  the  right 
navigation  for  the  South  African  coast,  and  so  forth.  He  an- 
swered me  throatily,  with  a note  of  satisfaction  in  his  thick 
speech,  and  then  Helga  and  I fell  to  quietly  pacing  the  deck. 

We  took  great  care  to  speak  low;  so  nimble  and  ghostly  were 
the  movements  of  this  colored  crew  that  it  was  impossible  to 
tell  where  a man  might  be  lying  listening  and  hidden.  Twice 
1 beheld  the  flitting  of  a shadow  in  the  obscurity  round  about 
the  main-mast,  and  all  the  while  1 walked  1 was  again  and  again 
tcastirig  a look  behind  me. 

It  seemed  an  eternity  ere  the  cold  gray  of  the  dawn  hovered 
in  the  east.  The  first  sight  the  bleak  and  desolate  light  re- 
vealed was  a patch  of  dark  crimson  abreast  of  the  companion, 
close  against  the  rail,  marking  the  spot  where  the  unhappy  mate 
had  been  stabbed.  The  bark  stole  glimmering  out  to  the  day- 
light, lifting  her  ashen  canvas  with  a gloom  about  the  deck 
where  the  forecastle  ended  as  though  the  blackness  of  the  night 
had  been  something  tangible,  and  the  lingering  shadows  betwixt 
the  rails  fragments  and  tatters  of  it.  1 swept  the  sea-line.  The 
ocean  was  a gray  desert  floating  in  thin  lines  of  swell  which 
made  it  resemble  a vast  carpet  stirred  by  a draught  of  wind. 
But  the  small  breeze  of  the  previous  evening  was  still  with  us, 
and  the  broad  bows  of  the  vessel  broke  the  water  into  wrin- 
kles fine-drawn  as  piano- wire  as  she  swam  forward,  slowly  roll- 
ing. 

Three  of  the  crew  sat,  squatting  like  Lascars,  against  the 
long-boat.  1 called,  and  they  instantly  sprung  to  their  feet 
and  came  aft. 

“ Get  scrapers/^  said  1,  “ and  work  that  stain  out  of  the 
deck  as  fast  as  you  can  move  your  arms.^^ 

They  sprung  forward,  returned  with  the  necessary  tools, 
and,  in  a minute,  were  on  their  knees  scraping  violently.  With 
a dreadful  feeling  of  sickness  of  heart  1 rejoined  Helga  at  the 
other  end  of  the  deck. 

10 


MY  DAK  IS1I  SWKKIiniAUT. 


ilH) 

The  Ban  rcse;  the  morning  was  to  be  a bright  one;  the 
heav^ens  went,  in  a clear  tropic  blue,  into  tl^o  south  anrl  west, 
and  in  the  north-east  the  clouds,  like  scattering  of  frosted  sil- 
ver, hung  high  and  motionless — mere  pem’ly  feathers  of  vapor, 
to  be  presently  absorbed.  Helga  went  below  to  her  cabin 
under  the  deck.  When  1 asked  her  il  she  did  not  feel  timid  at 
the  idea  of  penetrating  those  gloomy  dep'hs  alone,  she  smiled, 
and,  merely  saying,  ‘‘  Ay,  Hugh!  you  have  called  mo  a brave 
girl,  but  you  do  not  believe  mo  to  ho  she  left  me. 

It  was  shortly  after  seven  o^clock  that  1 spied  Kakier  stand- 
ing in  the  galley  door  talking  to  some  one  within.  I called  to 
him:  he  immediately  knocked  the  ashes  out  of  his  pipe,  and, 
slipping  the  inch  of  sooty  clay  into  his  breast,  approached  me. 
His  salute  was  full  of  respect,  and  he  surveyed  me  with  eyes  so 
gentle  and  so  cordial  that  one  looked  to  see  the  engaging  ten- 
derness of  his  heart  overflowing  his  face  in  smiles.  So  much 
for  appearances!  The  most  poisonous-fanged  rogue  of  them 
all  in  that  bark  full  of  colored  wretches  made  miscreants  and 
murderers  of  by  Captain  Joppa  Bunting^s  theories  of  conver- 
sion might  have  passed  to  every  eye  as  one  of  the  very  few 
sweet-souled  men  in  this  great  world  of  wrong-headed  human- 
ity! 

“ I want  you  to  send  Abraham  to  me,  Nakier,^^  said  I,  in 
the  civilest  manner  I could  command.  “It  is  his  watch  be- 
low, but  I desire  his  presence  and  help  while  I overhaul  the  cap- 
tain^s  cabin  for  charts,  for  instruments  of  navigation  and  so 
forth. 

He  sought  to  veil,  by  drooping  his  lids,  the  keen  glance  he 
shot  at  me. 

“ Yaas,  I send  Misser  Vise  to  you,  sah,^^  said  he;  “ but  first 
I would  like  to  speakee  about  dat  place  we  sail  to.  We  have 
agree,  and  we  ask  you,^’  he  continued,  with  a smile  that  put 
an  expression  of  coaxing  into  his  handsome  face,  “ to  agree 
allee  same  with  us  to  sail  for  Mossel  Bay.  It  is  a very  good 
bay,  and  it  have  a nice  little  town.”^^ 

“ Yes,^^  said  I;  “ and  when  we  get  there,  what  do  you  mean 
to  do  with  the  ship?^^ 

“ Oh,  we  allee  go  ashore,^^  he  answered. 

He  then  asked  me  if  I knew  where  Mossel  Bay  was  situated. 
1 answered  that  I had  never  heard  of  the  place,  but  that  if  it 
was  down  on  the  charts  we  should  undoubtedly  be  able  to  carry 
the  bark  to  it.  I then  again  requested  him  to  send  Abraham 
aft  tliat  he  and  1 and  tlie  young  lady  might  examine  the  con- 
tents of  the  captriin's  cabin,  ancertaiii  the  situation  of  the  ship 
when  observations  were  last  tiiken,  and  confer  as  to  the  course 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


291 


to  be  steered.  I thought  he  hesitated  for  an  instant,  but,  with 
true  Malay  swiftness  of  resolution  that  scarcely  gave  me  time 
to  note  the  hang  of  the  mind  in  him,  he  exclaimed:  “ 1 will 
sendMisser  Vise,  sah,^^  and  went  forward. 

In  a few  minutes  Abraham  arrived.  He  was  speedily  fol- 
lowed by  Jacob,  who  hung  about  in  the  waist,  looking  wistfully 
aft.  He,  however,  was  to  be  talked  to  afterward,  for  the 
policy  of  the  three  of  us  was  to  keep  as  separate  as  possible, 
oorning  together  only  under  some  such  excuse  as  I had  now 
invented.  The  men  who  formed  the  watch  on  deck  were 
loafing  about, to  use  the  expressive  vulgarism,  one  loung- 
ing against  the  bulwark  rail  with  another  talking  to  him;  here 
a fellow  squatting  like  a Hindoo  blowing  a cloud,  there  a couple 
patroling  ten  feet  of  deck,  their  arms  folded  upon  their  breasts. 
There  was  no  gesticulation,  no  excitement,  nothing  of  the  swift, 
fierce  whispered  conversation  significant  with  the  flashing  of 
the  askant  glance  that  had  been  noticeable  down  to  the  dusk 
of  the  previous  evening.  Nakier  paced  the  weather-side  of  the 
forecastle.  I never  once  caught  him  looking  our  way,  yet  I 
could  feel  that  the  fellow  had  us  in  his  eye  as  fully  as  though 
his  stare  was  a level  one. 

“ Abraham, said  I,  I have  sent  for  you  under  the  pretense 
of  helping  me  to  overhaul  the  dead  skipper^s  stock  of  nautical 
appliances.  My  real  motive  is  to  create  an  opportunity  to 
acquaint  you  with  the  plot  Miss  Nielsen  and  I settled  between 
us  while  we  were  in  the  cuddy.  DonT,  look  knowing,  man  I 
Put  on  as  honest  and  stupid  a Deal  beach  air  as  you  can  man- 
ufacture.'’^ 

I called  to  Nakier. 

“ The  bark  will  want  watching.  Step  aft  and  keep  a look- 
out v/hile  we  are  below,  willyou?^^  And  followed  by  Abraham 
I entered  the  cuddy. 


OHAPTEE  XXIV. 

HELGA^S  PLOT. 

Before  summoning  Helga  I resolved  to  take  a peep  at  the 
bci^ths,  lest  there  should  be  some  sight  in  one  or  the  other  of 
them  too  shocking  for  her  to  behold.  I was  made  to  think  of 
this  by  the  great  blood  stain  on  the  deck  close  against  the  cabin 
door.  Its  true  complexion  showed  in  the  daylight.  Abraham 
again  backed  away  on  seeing  it;  but  time  was  precious.  This 
was  an  opportunity  to  be  made  the  most  of,  and,  pushing  open 
the  door,  1 peered  in.  It  was  as  1 might  have  conjectured. 
The  captain  had  been  assassinated  by  twenty  strokes  of  the 


202 


MY  DANISH  SWEETTTKART. 


fellows^  knives  as  he  lay  in  his  bunk  asleep.  Not  one,  not 
half  a dozen  stabs  could  have  made  such  a horror  of  the  bed- 
clothes and  the  square  of  carpet  on  the  deck  as  we  gazed  at. 
It  was  not  an  interior  fit  for  Helga  to  enter. 

1 looked  into  the  maters  berth,  and  found  it  as  the  man  had 
left  it — the  blanket  lying  as  it  had  been  tossed  when  he  arose. 
There  was  nothing  frightful  here;  but  our  business  lay  in  tho 
captain^s  cabin,  and,-full  of  loathing,  I re-entered  the  horrible 
room  and  shut  the  door. 

“ A piteous  sight!  a piteous  sight,  sir!^^  exclaimed  Abra- 
ham, looking  about  him  in  a stupefied  way,  and  biting  upon 
his  underlip  to  moisten  it. 

“Now,  attend said  1.  “Collect  your  wits,  for  our 
stratagem  signifies  life  or  death  to  us. 

It  took  me  but  a few  minutes  to  communicate  Helga ’s  plan. 
He  grasped  the  thing  with  sailorly  promptitude,  nodding 
eagerly,  with  the  blood  returning  to  his  cheeks  to  my  hurried 
whispering,  and  when  I had  made  an  end  and  drew  back  to 
mark  his  judgment  in  his  face,  he  struck  his  thigh  a mighty 
blow,  but  said  in  a voice  cold  with  resolution,  despite  his 
countenance  being  all  a- work  with  agitation: 

“ It  will  do,  sir.  It  canH  fail.  It  is  only  the  getting  ^em 
together;  but  it  is  to  be  done  with  a little  patience. 

“ Now,^^  said  I,  “ let  us  see  what  is  here.  Will  the  poor 
fellow  have  had  a revolver?^^ 

But  we  searched  in  vain  for  such  a weapon.  With  hasty, 
desperate  hands,  never  knowing  but  that  at  the  next  moment 
Nakier  might  enter  or  some  probing  yellow  face  stare  in  upon 
us  through  the  little  window  that  overlooked  the  quarter-deck, 
we  ransacked  the  lockers,  explored  a large  black  sea-chest,  ex- 
amined the  shelves — to  no  purpose. 

“ He  was  too  good  a Christian  man,^^  said  Abraham,  hoarse- 
ly, “ to  own  a pistol.  Had  he  been  a Nova  Scotia  man,  there ^d 
be  veapons  enough  here  to  rig  out  a regiment  of  the  line  vith.'^ 

“ It  can  not  be  helped,  said  I,  keenly  disappointed,  never- 
theless, for  I had  counted  upon  finding  a revolver,  scarcely 
doubting  that  a man  in  charge  of  such  a ship^s  company  as 
these  colored  fellows  formed  would  go  to  sea  well  armed. 

With  all  haste  possible  we  transfixed  to  the  maters  cabin  a 
bag  of  charts,  a couple  of  sextants,  a chronometer,  and  other 
matters  of  a like  sort,  and  then,  with  sickened  hearts,  closed 
the  door  upon  that  tragic  interior  of  the  captain’s  berth.  1 
looked  through  the  contents  of  the  bag,  and  found  a large,  blue- 
backed  chart  of  South  Africa,  with  marginal  illustrations  of 
tho  principal  ports,  harbors,  and  headlands* 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEARl!. 


m 


“ This  will  do/^  said  I,  and  rolling  it  up  1 put  it  under  my 
arm,  and,  accompanied  by  Abraham,  stepped  through  the 
cuddy  door. 

My  eye  once  more  as  I passed  fell  upon  the  dreadful  stain 
ingrained  in  the  plank  of  the  deck,  and,  observing  Punmea- 
mootty  speaking  with  another  man  a little  forward  of  the  main- 
mast, 1 was  about  to  call  and  order  him  to  scrape  out  the  odious 
shocking  blotch.  But  at  the  same  instant  it  crossed  my  mind 
to  let  it  be:  it  was  a detail  to  fit  into  our  stratagem,  and  I 
whispered  the  fancy  to  Abraham  as  we  quitted  the  cuddy.  I 
believed  that  all  this  while  Helga  was  below  in  her  cabin,  and 
I was  leaning  over  the  little  hatch  that  led  to  our  quarters  to 
call  to  her,  when  she  pronounced  my  name  from  the  deck 
overhead,  and  on  looking  up  I saw  her  standing  at  the  brass 
rail  with  Nakier. 

“ Shall  Oi  go  forward  an^  get  my  breakfast  or  keep  along 
with  you,  Mr.  Tregarthen?^^  said  Abraham. 

foep  with  me  for  a little  time,^^  I answered,  and  he  fol- 
lowed me  on  to  the  poop. 

Nakier^s  fine  eyes  glowed  and  his  face  was  lighted  up  with 
an  expression  of  admiration  and  pleasure.  It  was  manifest  at 
the  first  glance  that  Helga  had  not  spared  her  simple,  pretty 
arts  in  conversing  with  him.  Her  first  words  to  me  were: 

Nakier  has  been  talking  to  me  about  his  native  country, 
Hugh.  Oh!  what  a shining  land  of  flowers  and  birds  and  a 
thousand  other  delights  it  must  be!^^  She  clasped  her  hands 
as  though  in  rapture,  and  added:  ‘‘  I shall  hope  some  of  these 
days  to  visit  that  beautiful  country. 

“ This  is  all  very  clever,  and  happily  devised,  and  well 
done,^^  thought  I,  stealing  a peep  at  Hakier,  who  was  stead- 
fastly regarding  with  undissembled  admiration  the  girPs  sweet, 
fresh  face,  that  was  faintly  flushed  by  her  enactment;  “ but  if 
we  three  men  should  be  made  away  with  — 1 choked  off  the 
hurry  of  ugly  fancies  that  swarmed  on  top  of  the  thought  of 
that  dark,  princely  mannered  villain  falling  in  love  with  her, 
and  exclaimed: 

“Yes,  the  country  of  the  Malays  is  a paradise,  1 believe  I 
Here,  Nakier,  is  a chart  of  South  Africa. 

We  went  to  the  skylight  to  spread  it. 

“ Now,^^  said  I,  “ where  is  this  Mossel  Bay  that  you  were 
speaking  about?^^ 

1 pored  upon  the  chart  in  a posture  of  eager  interest.  He 
immediately  pointed  to  the  place  with  a forefinger  as  delicately 
shaped  as  a woman^s. 

“ Ha!^^  said  I.  “ Yes;  that  is  to  the  eastward  of  Agulhas. 


294 


MY  DAKISII  SV/?:ETIIi:AIlT. 


“ See/^  I continned,  pointing  to  one  of  those  marginal  illus- 
trations I have  referred  to,  “ here  is  a picture  ot  the  bay.  It 
is  a long  walk  to  Cape  Town!^^  I continued,  looking  round 
with  a smile  at  Nakier. 

“ Oh,  no;  plenty  coach,  plenty  horse,  plenty  ox,^^  he  re- 
sponded, showing  his  teeth  and  speaking  without  the  least  hesi- 
tation— a quality  of  assurance  that  niad^e  me  hopeful,  for  it  was 
everything  indeed  that  he  should  believe  us  credulous  enough 
to  suppose  that  Mossel  Bay  was  the  destination  he  had  in  his 
mind. 

“ Here  is  the  picture,  Helga!^^  said'l.  “ D’ye  see  it,  Abra- 
ham? A fine  open  roadstead,  not  to  be  easily  missed  by  you 
and  Miss  Nielsen.  There  are  a couple  of  excellent  sextants 
and  a good  chronometer  below,  and  all  necessary  instruments 
for  a safe  navigation.’^ 

“ Oy,  a first-class  bay,  and  no  mistake,”  exclaimed  Abra- 
ham. 

Bending  his  squint  upon  the  chart  in  a musing  way,  he  scored 
along  the  line  of  coast  with  his  square-cut  thumb,  as  though 
calculating  courses  and  distances.  Miserable  as  I felt,  I could 
have  burst  into  a laugh  at  the  face  he  put  on. 

Oi’ve  long  had  a notion,”  said  he,  still  squinting  at  the 
chart,  of  wisiting  these  ’ere  foreign  parts.  Oi’ve  heerd  tell 
of  Cape  Town  as  a proper  city,  plenty  o’  grapes  a-knocking 
about  and  sherry  vines  and  the  likes  of  them  drinks  to  be  had 
for  the  asting,  everything  A 1 and  up  to  the  knocker.  But 
see  here,  Nakier,”  said  he,  in  a wonderfully  familiar  and 
friendly,  shipmate-like  sort  of  way.  Oi’m  a pore  man,  and 
so  is  my  mate  Jacob.  Tell  ye  what  Oi’m  a-thinking  of:  ain’t 
there  no  chance  of  our  taking  up  a few  pound  for  this  here 
run?” 

His  apparent  earnestness  must  have  deceived  a subtler  eye 
than  ever  Nakier  could  have  brought  to  bear  on  him.  I ut- 
tered a word  or  two,  as  though  1 would  remonstrate. 

“You  and  me,  Misser  Vise,  will  speak  on  dat  by  um  by. 
We  allee  want  money,  and  we  get  it,”  responded  Nakier,  nod- 
ding significantly. 

I partly  turned  away,  as  though  there  was  nothing  in  this 
conversation  to  interest  me. 

“ Ye  don’t  know  what  hoveling  is,  Nakier,  Oi  suppose?” 
said  Abraham.  “ This  here  wessel  is  what  we  should  call  a 
blooming  good  job  down  our  way — ” 

I interrupted  him,  fearful  lest  he  should  overdo  his  part: 

“ You  might  go  forward-  and  fo-t  Korne  breakfast  now,  Abra- 
ham. You  can  relievo  me  lioje  when  you  have  finished  the 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.  295 

meal.  Is  there  anything  more  you  wish  to  know  that  this 
chart  can  tell  us  about,  Nakier?^^ 

“ No,  sail.  Now  you  sabbee  where  Mossel  Bay  is,  it  is  allee 
right. 

Abraham  was  descending  the  poop-ladder.  Under  pretense 
of  giving  him  the  chart  to  replace  in  the  mate’s  berth,  I whis- 
pered, “Mind  you  tell  Jacob  everything,’’  and  then  walked 
aft  with  Helga,  leaving  Nakier  to  go  forward. 

Throughout  that  morning  the  weather  continued  wonderfully 
brilliant  and  quiet.  The  heavens  were  a sweep  of  blue  from 
line  to  line,  and  the  sun  as  hot  as  we  might  have  thought  to 
find  it  ten  degrees  further  south.  But  shortly  after  ten  o’clock 
the  weak  wind,  that  had  been  barely  giving  the  “ Light  of  the 
World  ” steerage  way,  entirely  failed;  the  atmosphere  grew 
stagnant  with  the  dry,  parched  hollowness  that  one  sometimes 
notices  before  a storm,  as  though  nature  sucked  in  her  cheeks 
before  expelling  her  breath  through  her  feverish  lips.  I put 
my  head  into  the  skylight  to  look  at  the  barometer,  not  know- 
ing but  that  there  might  be  dirty  weather  at  the  heels  of  this 
passing  spell  of  sultry  silence;  but  the  mercury  stood  high, 
and  the  lens-like  sharpness  of  the  line  of  the  horizon  along 
with  the  high  fine-weather  blue  was  as  ample  a confirmation 
of  its  promise  as  one  could  hope  to  find.  By  eleven  o’clock 
the  calm  was  broken  by  a delicate  rippling  of  wind  out  of  the 
north-east — the  first  fanning  of  the  north-east  trade-wind  1 
took  it  to  be.  The  yards  were  trimmed  to  the  change  by  Abra- 
ham, who  followed  on  with  some  orders  about  the  f oretopmast- 
studding-sail.  1 was  on  deck  at  the  time,  and,  hearing  this, 
rose  hastily  and  thrust  past  him,  saying  betwixt  my  teeth,  so 
vexed  was  I by  his  want  of  foresight: 

“ Keep  all  fast  with  your  studding-sail  gear,  you  fool!  Are 
we  three  Englishmen  taking  a line-of-battle  ship’s  company? 
Pray  think  before  you  bawl  out!” 

He  saw  his  blunder,  and,  after  a leisurely,  well-acted  view 
of  the  sea,  as  though  the  weather  had  raised  a debate  in  his 
mind,  he  called  out  to  the  three  or  four  fellows  who  were 
clambering  aloft  to  rig  the  boom  out  on  the  foreyard: 

“ Never  mind  about  that  there  stun’-sail!  Ye  can  lay  down, 
moy  lads!”  and  he  bawled  to  me  (who  had  returned  aft),  by 
w^ay,  no  doubt,  of  excusing  himself  to  Nakier,  who  was  on  the 
forecastle  and  who  appeared  to  be  keeping  a keen  lookout  upon 
the  ship  on  his  own  account,  “ There’s  no  use,  Oi  think,  Mr. 
Tregarthen,  a-worriting  about  stun’-sails  ontil  this  here  breeze 
hardens.  It’ll  only  be  keeping  the  men  a-going  for  no  good.” 

“ Unless  we  are  speedy,”  1 whispered  to  Helga,  as  we  stood 


296 


MY  DANISH  SWEKTHEART. 


within  ear-shot  of  the  lielrnsnian,  ‘‘  that  man  Abraham  wiU 
ruin  us.  Think  of  the  fellow  piling  canvas  at  a time'; 
Whafc  a curse  is  consequentiality  when  out  of  season!  Mere 
a poor,  miserable  Deal  boatman  with  the  privilege  of  orderinf? 
a few  black  men  about,  and  he  doesn^t  know  how  to  make 
enough  of  his  rights. 

From  time  to  time  1 would  gaze  mechanically  round  the  sea 
in  search  of  a ship,  but  with  no  notion  of  finding  encourage- 
ment in  the  gleam  of  a sail  or  in  the  shadowing  of  a steamer’s 
smoke.  My  hope  lay  in  a very  different  direction.  But  cus- 
tom is  strangely  strong  on  shipboard,  and  1 continued  to  look, 
though  I was  without  the  wish  to  see. 

Shortly  before  noon  I fetched  the  two  sextants,  one  of  which 
I gave  to  Abraham  and  the  other  to  Helga.  The  boatman 
seemed  hardly  to  know  what  to  do  with  the  instrument;  it  was 
a new,  very  handsome  sextant,  sparkling  with  brass  and  de- 
tails of  telescope,  glass,  and  the  like,  and  bore  as  little  resem- 
blance to  the  aged,  time-eaten  quadrant  that  had  gone  down 
with  the  “ Early  Morn  ’’  as  to  the  cross-staff  of  th^e  Ancient 
Mariner.  I marked  him  putting  it  to  his  eye,  and  then  fum- 
bling with  it,  and,  noticing  several  fellows  forward,  Nakier 
among  them,  attentively  watching  us,  I called  to  him  softly: 

“ Keep  it  at  your  eye,  man!  Let  them  believe  that  you 
thoroughly  understand  it!” 

“ Eoight  ye  are,”  he  answered,  putting  the  instrument  to 
his  face;  ‘‘  but  v/ho  the  blazes  is  a-going  to  bring  the  sun  into 
the  middle  o’  such  a muddle  o’  hornamentation  as  this  here?” 

The  attention  of  the  men,  however,  was  in  reality  fixed  upon 
rielga.  She  stood  at  the  rail  within  full  view  of  them,  and 
there  was,  indeed,  novelty  enough  in  the  sight  to  account  for 
their  staring,  apart  from  the  hope  they  had  of  her  as  the  one 
that  was  to  navigate  their  ship  to  the  coast  on  which,  as  1 took 
it,  they  meant  to  wreck  her.  Her  well- fitting  dress  of  dark 
serge  showed  no  signs  of  wear  as  yet.  No  posture  that  she 
might  have  artfully  adopted  could  so  happily  express  the  charms 
of  her  figure  as  this,  when  she  turned  her  face  sunward,  with 
the  shining  sextant  raised  to  her  eye.  The  delicate  pale  gold 
of  her  riiort  hair  was  the  right  sort  of  tint  to  fascinate  the 
dusky  gaze  that  was  fastened  upon  her.  In  her  conversations 
with  me  she  had  made  little  or  nothing  of  her  knowledge  of 
navigation,  but  it  was  easy  to  see  in  an  instant’s  glance  that 
she  was  a practiced  hand  in  the  art  of  coaxing  the  sun’s  limb 
to  the  sin  of  the  sea-line. 

1 spi(Ml  Nakicc'  forward  watcdiing  her  with  an  air  of  breath- 
Jei30  interest.  He  and  the  rest  of  them  might  have  doubted  her 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


297 


capacity,  knowing  of  it  only  from  such  off-hand  talk  as  Pun- 
meamootty  had  been  able  to  collect  and  repeat  from  the  cabin 
table.  But  now  she  was  justifying  their  expectations,  and  by 
this  time  the  whole  of  the  crew — ten  of  them,  with  Jacob  in 
the  waist  and  a Malay  at  the  wheel — were  staring  as  one  man; 
the  cook  from  the  door  of  his  galley,  Nakier  on  the  forecastle 
swinging  off  from  a rope,  the  rest  of  them  in  groups  here  and 


there. 

“ It  is  eight  bells, cried  Helga,  in  her  clear  voice,  accen- 
tuated, as  it  always  was,  with  a faint  harshness  of  Scandinavian 
articulation. 

“ Height  bellsl^’  roared  Abraham,  though  it  might  have 
been  midnight  to  him,  so  far  as  the  indications  of  his  sextant 
went. 

“ Eight  bell!^^  piped  the  melodious  voice  of  Nakier,  like  a 
belated  echo  of  Helga’s  cry;  and  the  chimes  floated  along  the 
quiet  decks. 

I told  Abraham  to  go  below  to  the  maters  cabin,  and  bring 
materials  of  ink,  paper,  log-book,  and  so  forth,  to  enable 
Helga  to  work  out  the  sights;  also  the  chronometer  and  the 
“ Nautical  Almanac.^^  This  was  a part  of  our  plot;  other- 
wise, as  you  may  suppose,  the  chronometer  was  not  a thing  to 
be  carried  here  and  there,  least  of  all  by  such  hands  as  Abra- 
ham^s.  The  men  were  now  passing  in  and  out  of  the  galley, 
conveying  their  dinner  of  smoking  beef  and  ship’s  “duff” 
into  the  forecastle.  They  talked  eagerly,  and  with  a gratula- 
tory  tone.  That  Helga  had  been  able  to  find  out  what  o’clock 
it  was  by  the  sextant  was  the  fullest  warranty  of  her  sutficience 
as  a navigator  the  poor  wretches’  ignorant  souls  could  have 
demanded. 

Nakier  remained  on  the  forecastle  watching  us.  I sum- 
moned him  with  a motion  of  my  forefinger,  and  he  came  rap- 
idly gliding  to  the  poop. 

“ I wish  you  to  remain  here,”  said  I,  “ while  Miss  Nielsen 
calculates  the  bark’s  position,  that  you  may  be  able  to  tell  the 
rest  of  the  men  they  are  in  friendly  hands,  and  that  we  look 
for  the  same  friendly  behavior  from  you  all.” 

He  answered  with  a motion  of  his  hand  that  was  as  expres- 
sive as  a Frenchman’s  gesture. 

“ It  would  have  been  more  convenient  for  the  lady,”  I con- 
tinued, “ to  have  made  her  calculations  in  the  captain’s  cabin, 
but  ” — I looked  him  full  in  the  face.  He  did  not  seem  to  un- 
derstand. “ That  berth  is  not  fit  for  her  to  enter.” 

“ Ha!”  he  exclaimed,  “ dat  shall  be  put  right,  I have  for* 


298 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“By  and  by.  'N’o  hurry  now.  Tell  Punmeamootty  ta 
bring  us  our  dinner  here.  Miss  Nielsen  does  not  care  to  use 
the  cuddy.  She  is  a young  lady — impressionable — you  under- 
stand me,  Nakier?  When  all  is  made  straight  the  feeling  will 
pass  with  her.  But  for  the  present — 

1 broke  off  as  Abraham  arrived  bringing  with  him  the  arti- 
cles I had  dispatched  him  to  procure. 

“ Whose  trick  at  the  wheel  is  it?’^  I asked  the  boatman, 
carelessly.  “ It  is  noon,  and  that  man  yonder  has  been  at  the 
helm  since  ten.^^ 

“It^Il  be  Jacobis,  sir.  Oi  allow  he’s  waiting  to  finish  his 
dinner.” 

“ No,  no,”  said  I,  “ that’s  not  true  ship’s  discipline.  Fair 
must  be  fair  aboard  us,”  and,  with  some  demonstration  of 
warmth  in  my  manner,  I went  to  the  poop  rail  and  bawled  for 
Jacob  to  come  aft. 

The  man  promptly  made  his  appearance,  and  the  moment 
he  had  gripped  the  spokes  of  the  wheel  the  ginger-colored  fel- 
low who  had  been  steering  fled  along  the  decks  for  his  dinner 
fleet  as  a hare  with  hunger.  Abraham,  with  pencil  and,  paper 
in  hand,  leaned  upon  the  companion-cover  while  he  pretended 
to  be  lost  in  calculating.  Nakier  and  I stood  looking  on  at 
Helga,  who  was  seated  on  one  side  the  skylight,  the  lid  of 
which  being  closed  and  lying  flat,  provided  her  with  a table  on 
which  stood  the  chronometer,  the  volumes,  the  charts,  and  the 
other  appliances  she  needed.  She  knev/  exactly  what  to  do, 
and  worked  out  her  problems  with  a busy  face  and  the  blue  of 
her  eyes  sweetened  into  violet  by  the  shadow  of  the  lashes. 
Deeply  worried,  miserably  anxious  as  I was  on  the  eve  of  a proj- 
ect the  failure  of  which  was  bound  to  signify  an  inhuman 
butchery  of  the  three  of  us  by  the  dark-skinned  creatures  we 
designed  to  betray,  I could  still  find  heart  for  admiration  of 
the  wonderful  heroism  of  this  girl.  She  was  actively  to  share 
in  our  enterprise,  and,  if  failure  followed,  her  doom  might  be 
even  more  fearful  than  ours;  yet,  had  her  face  been  of  marble 
carved  into  an  incomparable  counterfeit  of  a girl’s  countenance 
intent  on  a bit  of  arithmetic  and  nothing  more,  its  passion- 
lessness, its  marvelous  freedom  from  all  expression  of  agita- 
tion, could  not  have  been  completer. 

When  she  had  completed  her  reckoning,  she  opened  the 
chart  which  bore  Captain  Bunting’s  “ prickings,”  as  they  are 
termed,  and  with  rules  and  pencil  continued  the  line  to  the 
situation  of  the  ship  at  noon. 

“ That  is  where  we  are  at  this  moment,”  she  exclaimed^ 
pointing  to  the  chart. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


299 


NaWer,  with  looks  of  astonishment  and  delight,  peered. 

“ What  d^ye  make  it,  miss?^^  called  Abraham. 

She  gave  him  the  latitude  and  longitude — what  it  was  has 
wholly  escaped  me. 

“ Eoight/^  he  shouted,  tearing  up  his  bit  of  paper. 

Take  these  things  below,  Abraham,^^  said  I,  indicating  the 
nautical  instruments  and  charts,  “ and  then  get  your  dinner. 
When  you  have  done  I shall  want  you  to  come  aft  and  take 
charge  of  the  bark  for  half  an  hour.  Miss  Nielsen  wishes  to 
go  to  her  cabin,  and  I am  no  sailor  to  be  left  alone  with  this 
craft. 

“ Oy,  oy,  sir!^'’  he  answered,  and  picking  up  the  things  he 
trundled  off  the  poop. 

“ Send  Punmeamootty  here  with  something  for  us  to  eat,  if 
you  please,  Nakier,^^  said  I. 

He  made  a soft  salaaming  bow,  and  quitted  us  with  shining 
eyes  and  a highly  pleased  face.  Presently  the  steward  ap- 
proached us  with  some  cold  salt  beef,  biscuit,  and  a bottle  of 
wine.  He  spread  a cloth  upon  the  skylight,  and  then  brought 
a couple  of  chairs  from  the  cabin.  While  he  was  doing  this  I 
slipped  into  the  maters  berth  and  took  a track-chart  of  the 
world  from  the  bag  and  returned  with  it.  I opened  and  pre- 
tended to  examine  it  with  anxious  attention,  speaking  in  an 
aside  to  Helga  in  a grumbling,  doubting  voice,  and  with  a 
shake  of  my  head,  while  Punmeamootty  stood  by  waiting  to 
learn  if  we  had  further  orders.  I told  him  we  should  require 
nothing  more,  and  then  rolling  up  the  chart,  feigned  to  attack 
the  repast  before  us.  But  as  to  eating — not  for  ten  times  the 
value  of  this  “ Light  of  the  World  and  her  cargo  could  I 
have  swallowed  a morsel.  Helga  munched  a biscuit  and  drank 
a little  wine,  eying  me  collectedly,  with  often  a smile  when 
my  glance  went  to  her. 

“ What  a heart  beats  in  you  I cried,  gently,  for  it  was  im- 
possible to  know  but  that  some  wriggling,  nimble-heeled 
colored  skin  had  slipped  into  the  cabin,  and  was  hanging  mo- 
tionless close  under  us,  with  his  ear  at  the  skylight.  But  it 
is  not  too  late  even  yet  to  reconsider.  1 can  do  without  you, 
Helga. 

‘‘  Yes,  but  not  so  well  as  with  me,^^  she  answered. 

‘‘  But  if  we  fail — 

There  must  be  no  thought  of  failing. 

‘‘If  we  fail,^^  1 continued,  “ they  may  spare  you  as  not  ap- 
parently in  the  plot,  and  they  will  spare  you  the  more  readily, 
and  use  you  well  too,  since  they  must  be  helpless  without  you 
to  navigate  them.  ^ 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAM. 


366 


“Hush!’^  she  whispered.  “The  stratagem  will  bo  the 
surer  for  my  presence.  And  what  is  the  danger?  There  can 
be  none  if  we  manage  as  we  have  arranged. 

“ When  d^ye  reckon  on  starting  on  this  here  job,  Mr.  Tro- 
garthen?’’  called  Jacob  from  the  wheel. 

I shook  my  fist  as  a hint  to  him  to  hold  his  tongue.  I waited 
a few  minutes,  during  which  1 pretended  to  be  busy  with  my 
knife  and  fork.  The  yellow-faced  cook  stood  in  the  galley 
door  smoking;  there  were  two  fellows  beyond  him  conversing 
close  against  the  forecastle  hatch.  The  rest  of  the  seamen 
were  below  at  their  dinner.  I now  opened  the  chart;  Hclga 
came  round  to  my  side,  and  the  pair  of  us  fell  to  pointing  and 
motioning  with  our  hands  over  the  chart  as  though  we  were 
w^armly  discussing  a difficulty.  I raised  my  voice  and  shook 
my  head,  exclaiming:  “ No,  no!  Any  sailor  will  tell  j^ou  that 
the  prevailing  gales  off  Agulhas  are  from  the  eastward  and 
continued  in  this  fashion,  delivering  meaningless  sentences, 
always  very  noisily,  and  with  a great  deal  of  gesticulation, 
while  Helga  acted  a like  part.  The  three  fellows  forward 
watched  us  steadfastly. 

Just  then  Abraham  rose  out  of  the  forecastle  hatch  and  ap- 
proached the  poop  in  a strolling,  rolling  gait,  carelessly  filling 
his  pipe  as  he  came  and  sending  the  true  ^longshore  leisurely 
look  at  the  sea  from  side  to  side.  A couple  of  fellows  followed 
him  out  of  the  hatch,  entered  the  galley  for  a light,  as  1 sup- 
posed, and  emerged  smoking.  Helga  and  I still  feigned  to  be 
wrangling.  Then  Abraham  joined  us,  and,  after  listening  a 
minute  or  two,  raised  his  voice  with  a wrangling  note  in  it  also. 

“ Come,  Helga,^^  I whispered,  “ this  fooling  has  lasted  long 
enough.  Now  for  it,  and  may  God  shield  us!  Abraham, 
stand  by,  my  lad!  Keep  your  eye  forward!^^ 

I had  courted  a few  occasions  of  peril  in  my  time,  and  knew 
what  it  was  to  have  death  close  alongside  of  me  for  hour  after 
hour;  but  then  my  blood  was  up,  there  was  human  life  to  be 
eaved,  and,  outside  that  consideration,  there  was  small  oppor- 
tunity for  thought.  It  was  otherwise  now,  and  I own  that  my 
heart  felt  cold  as  stone  as  1 advanced  to  the  forecastle  with 
Helga.  1 prayed  that  my  cheeks  would  not  betray  my  inward 
perturbation.  I did  not  greatly  fear  for  the  girl.  Though  we 
should  fail,  I believed  her  life  would  be  saved,  horrible  as  the 
conditions  of  preservation  might  prove  to  her.  It  was  other- 
wise with  me.  Let  but  a suspicion  of  my  intention  enter  the 
minds  of  the  men,  and  I knew  that  in  the  space  ot  a pulse  or 
two  I must  be  a corpse,  pierced  by  every  knife  in  that  vessers 
forecastle. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


301 


As  I approached  the  hatch  that  led  to  the  quarters  of  the 
crew’,  Nakier  came  out  of  it.  I suppose  that  the  fellows  who 
had  been  watching  us  called  down  to  him,  and  that  he  came 

Eto  gather  what  the  discussion  on  the  poop  might  be  about. 

) looked  astonished  by  our  presence  in  that  fore  part  of  the 
ship,  and  there  was  a mingling  of  puzzlement  and  of  cunning 
in  his  eyes  as  he  ran  them  over  us. 

“ Nakier,^^  said  I,  “ 1 can  not  satisfy  myself  that  Mossel 
Bay  is  a safe  and  easy  destination  for  this  vessel. 

‘‘  It  was  settle,  sah,^^  he  exclaimed,  quickly. 

‘‘There  are  more  accessible  ports  on  the  South  African 
coast.  What  are  the  views  of  jour  crew?^^ 

“ Dey  are  all  of  my  Opinion,  sah.^^ 

“ The  matter  has  not  been  discussed  in  their  presence,  I 
exclaimed.  “ Why  do  you  wish  to  carry  us  round  Agulhas? 
Besides,  do  not  you  know  that  there  are  ships  of  war  at  Simonas 
Bay,  and  that  there  is  every  chance  of  our  falling  in  with  one 
of  her  majesty^s  cruisers  off  that  line  of  coast  you  wish  us  to 
sail  round 

By  this  time  the  few  men  on  deck  had  gathered  about  us, 
and  were  listening  eagerly  with  their  necks  craned  and  their 
eyes,  like  blots  of  ink  upon  ovals  of  yellow  satin,  but  fire- 
touched,  steadfast  upon  me. 

“ I do  not  agree  with  Mr.  Tregarthen,  Nakier,^^  said  Helga. 
“ I believe  there  is  nothing  to  fear  from  our  sailing  round  the 
Cape.  He  speaks  of  the  heavy  seas  of  the  Southern  Ocean 
and  of  strong  easterly  winds.  It  is  not  so,^^  she  added,  smil- 
ing. 

“No,  no,^^  he  cried,  with  a passionate  motion  of  the  head; 
“no  easter  wind  dis  time  ob  year.  All  fine-wedder  sailing; 
beautiful  smooth  sea,  allee  same  as  dis.^^ 

“ Now,  see  here,^^  said  I,  with  a note  of  imperativeness  in 
my  speech.  “ I have  a right  to  express  an  opinion  on  this 
matter,  and  my  contention  is  that  it  is  ridiculous  to  sail  round 
to  Mossel  Bay  when  you  may  get  ashore  for  your  walk  to  Cape 
Town  on  this  side  of  the  stormy  headland  of  Agulhas. 

The  fellow^s  eyes  sparkled  with  irritation  and  misgiving  as 
he  looked  at  me. 

“ Abraham  and  his  mate  are  both  of  my  way  of  thinking,^^ 
I went  on.  “ The  lady,  on  the  other  hand,  has  no  objection 
to  Mossel  Bay.  Here  we  are  then,  undecided  as  yet.  Do  you 
follow  me?^^  He  nodded  his  head  sideways,  as  much  as  to  saj% 
“GoonT^  “The  four  of  us,  however,  will  agree  to  this. 
The  chart  gives  you  a view  of  South  Africa.  Let  all  hands  as- 
semble, saving  those  two  men  aft  there;i  who  are  willing  to 


My  PA>;i3P  SWEimiEART. 


3^2 

abiLlo  by  your  decision.  Let  me  show  them  this  clmrt  and  ex- 
plLiin  my  irlcas  to  them.  If  after  I have, been  heard  you  and 
your  men  still  insist  upon  our  carrying  this  vessel  to  Mossol 
jJay,  it  shall  be  done."^^ 

“ Where  can  we  lay  the  chart?^^  said  Helga. 

“ Is  there  a table  in  your  forecastle,  Nakier?^^  I asked,  send- 
ing a look  at  the  little  hatch  which  yawned  close  by. 

“ Yaas,  sah/^  he  answered,  glancing  from  Helga  to  the 
cuddy  as  if  he  could  not  understand  us. 

I met  his  eyes  with  a shake  of  my  head  as  though  1 could 
read  his  thoughts,  and,  approaching  him  by  a stride,  v/hispered: 

“Not  in  the  cuddy.  You  know  why,  Nakier.  She  will 
not  enter  it  until  it  has  been  cleansed,  and  1 must  have  her  by 
my  side  if  we  are  to  fairly  argue  this  difficulty. 

“ I can  easily  descend,  said  Helga,  stepping  to  the  fore- 
castle hatch  to  look  down  it.  “I  should  like  to  see  the  men^s 
quarters,  Nakier.  I am  as  much  a sailor  as  any  of  you,  and 
have  slept  in  a hammock. 

The  man's  gaze  glowed  with  the  admiration  1 had  noticed 
in  it  while  she  was  working  out  the  navigation  problems.  Had 
he  been  the  subtlest-witted  of  his  race,  what  could  he  have 
witnessed  in  this  desire  of  the  girl  and  me  to  enter  the  fore- 
castle to  excite  his  suspicion?  The  other  poor  dusky  fools 
standing  by  with  tawny  orange  or  primrose  faces  wrinkled  their 
repellent  masks  with  sailor-like  grins  of  expectation;  for  what- 
ever be  the  color  of  Jack's  skin  at  sea,  the  least  excitement, 
the  least  divergement  from  the  miserable  monotony  of  his  life, 
is  a delight  to  him. 

“ Shall  1 go  first?"  said  1. 

Helga  uttered  a clear  laugh.  “ I should  be  ashamed,"  she 
answered,  “ not  to  be  able  to  enter  a ship's  forecastle  without 
help;"  and  so  saying  she  put  her  little  foot  upon  the  first  of 
he  pieces  of  wood  nailed  against  the  bulkhead  and  serving  as 
steps,  and  descended.  I followed,  bidding  Nakier  as  I entered 
i lie  hatch  to  order  every  mother's  son  of  his  crew  to  attend, 
since  it  was  a question  for  all  hands,  and  their  decision  was  to 
be  final. 

It  was  a time  of  emotions  and  sensations,  and  memory  re- 
calls but  little  more.  I remember  that  one  after  another,  in 
response  to  Nakier's  call,  the  men  who  were  on  deck  dropped 
below,  till  the  forecastle  seemed  full  of  dusky,  grotesquely  at- 
tired shapes.  The  daylight  streamed  down  through  the  oblong 
yawn  of  liatch.  The  flame  of  a slush-lamp  charged  the  interior 
with  an  atmosphere  of  greasy  smoke.  Some  bunks  went  on. 
either  hand,  and  a few  hummocks  dangled  from  ihe  upper 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAET. 


308 


deck.  There  was  a square  table  fixed  to  the  stout  after-bulk- 
head that  divided  this  compartment  from  the  hold.  The  men 
seemed  to  be  without  other  wearing  apparel  than  that  they 
stood  up  in.  I saw  no  sea-chests,  no  bags:  merely  here  and 
there  a shoe,  a cap,  a sou^-wester,  an  oilskin  smock  dangling 
at  a nail.  The  murmur  of  the  water,  broken  by  the  stealthily 
sliding  stem,  penetrated  the  stillness  with  a subdued  sound  of 
hissing  like  the  swift  respiration  of  the  men,  who  gathered 
about  Helga  and  me  as  we  stood  at  the  table  with  the  chart 
open  before  us.  Hard  by  the  table  was  a stove,  the  chimney 
of  which,  in  a zigzag,  pierced  the  deck,  showing  its  head  well 
out  of  the  way  close  against  the  hollow  under  the  topgallant 
forecastle  where  the  windlass  was.  But  for  this  chimney  the 
stratagem  we  were  about  to  attempt  must  have  been  rendered 
impossible  by  humanity. 

Pressing  my  forefinger  upon  the  chart,  the  curling  corners 
of  which  were  held  down  by  Nakier  on  the  one  hand  and  Helga 
on  the  other,  I fell  to,  explaining  my  views,  as  I chose  to  call 
them,  meanwhile  looking  round  to  observe  that  all  hands  of 
the  Malays  and  Cingalese  were  present — for  the  creatures  had 
a trick  of  coming  and  going  like  shadows.  I bade  them  all 
listen,  looking  into  one  face  after  another,  and  1 can  see  them 
now,  shouldering  one  another  and  eagerly  bending  forward,  a 
strange,  gloomy  huddle  of  discolored  countenances  flashful 
with  eyes,  and  of  various  expressions.  Some  of  them  barely 
understood  English,  apart  from  the  plain  sea-going  terms,  and 
these  frowned  down  upon  the  chart  or  at  me  in  their  effort  to 
understand  my  meaning.  Upon  every  man^s  left  hip  was 
strapped  the  inevitable  sheath-knife  of  the  sailor,  accessible  in 
a twist  of  the  wrist,  and  my  breath  for  a little  while  grew 
labored,  while  I cursed  myself  for  not  having  acted  upon  the 
first  motion  of  my  mind  after  Nakier  had  laid  the  capful  of 
nak^d  blades  at  Helga^s  feet. 

See  here,  now!^*^  1 exclaimed,  addressing  the  men  gener- 
ally: “ judge  of  the  time  and  leagues  we  might  be  able  to  save 
by  making  for  St.  Helena  Bay,  or  say  Saldanha  Bay,  instead 
of  Mossel  Bay.  ' Here  is  Simonas  Town,  and  in  this  bight,  as 
you  all  of  you  know,  lies  several  of  her  majesty^s  ships.  Fig- 
ure a cruiser  requiring  us  to  bring  to,  and  sending  a boat 
aboard  us.  What  then?^^ 

The  few  of  the  fellows  who  understood  me  breathed  hard 
and  looked  at  Nakier.  One  of  them,  with  a Dutch  accent, 
exclaimed: 

Boss,  how  far  it  be  from  Saldanha  Bay  to  Cape  Town?^^ 

Nakier  said  something  almost  fiercely  to  him  in  his  native 


304 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAHT. 


tongue.  The  man  responded  in  a dialect  that  certainly,  to  my 
ear,  did  not  resemble  Nakier’s;  but  this  might  have  been  owing 
to  the  swinish  thickness  of  his  utterance,  and,  having  spoken, 
he  thrust  one  of  his  mates  aside,  to  get  nearer  to  the  table, 
and,  putting  his  grimy  thumb  on  the  part  of  the  chart  where 
Simonas  Bay  was  marked,  he  stared  at  Nakier,  nodding  with 
a vehemence  that  seemed  a sort  of  fury  in  him— immed^iately 
afterward  rounding  upon  the  others,  and  gesticulating  with 
his  hand  to  his  neck,  clearly  signifying  a halter. 

“ No,  no!^^  cried  Nakier. 

“ How  far? — how  far,  boss?^^  shouted  the  other,  addressing 
me. 

I can  not  tell,^^  said  I,  without  a pair  of  compasses.  I 
forgot  to  bring  those  measuring  instruments  with  me,  Nakier. 
I will  fetch  them — I’ll  be  back  among  you  in  a few  minutes.’^ 

Helga,  with  a well-acted  start  and  look  of  alarm,  said: 

“ You  must  not  leave  me  alone  here,  Hugh!  Let  me  fetch 
the  boxP^ 

‘‘  Very  good!’^  said  1. 

She  lightly  gained  the  deck,  but  even  while  she  was  making 
for  the  hatch  I was  covering  her  retreat  by  noisily  talking  and 
demonstratively  pointing,  so  that  every  man’s  attention  was 
fixed  upon  me. 

1 held  the  corner  of  the  chart,  which  Helga  had  pinned  down 
with  her  fingers,  while  1 spoke;  the  chart  was  stiff  and  had 
not  been  often  used,  and  when  one  let  go  it  rolled  itself  up  into 
a funnel.  I perceived  that  my  reference  to  the  British  ships 
of  war  at  Simon’s  Bay  had  taken  a hold  upon  the  imagination 
of  a few  of  the  fellows,  and  while  1 seemed  to  wait  for  Helga 
I made  the  most  of  this  by  asking  the  men  if  they  could  tell 
me  what  vessels  were  on  that  station,  if  they  knew  how  often 
aud  in  what  direction  they  cruised,  and  then  1 said: 

“ Suppose  on  our  arrival  at  Mossel  Bay  we  find  an  English 
frigate  or  corvette  there?  Men,  have  you  thought  of  that? 
It  is  not  because  I am  innocent  of  the  blood  of  the  captain  and 
the  mate  who  were  assassinated  last  night  that  I wish  to  be 
boarded  by  a lieutenant  and  a dozen  English  sailors  from  a 
man-of-war  on  our  arrival,  wherever  it  may  be,  or  on  the  high 
seas.  Can  I be  sure  of  proving  my  innocence  if  I am  charged 
with  having  had  a hand  in  this  crime?”  I cried,  looking  de- 
fiantly at  Nakier  and  raising  my  voice.  “ Would  you  come 
forward  and  say  that  you  and  your  men  were  guilty,  and  that 
I and  the  lady  and  the  two  Englishmen  were  innocent?  You 
know  you  would  not!”  I thundered,  heavily  striking  the  chart 
a thump  with  my  clinched  fist.  “ Why,  then,  do  you  want  to 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEAET. 


305 


sail  past  this  Simonas  Bay?  Is  not  this  side  of  the  coast  safer, 
freer  from  the  risks  of  falling  in  with  a ship  of  war,  and  nearer 
by  many  miles  to  Cape  Town  than  Mossel  Bay?^^ 

‘‘  How  much  near? — how  much  near,  boss?^^  cried  the  man 
who  had  already  asked  this  question. 

‘‘Here!^''  said  1.  ‘‘Hold  down  this  corner  of  the  chart, 
will  you,  while  I call  to  Mr.  Wise  to  bring  me  the  box  of  in- 
struments?  Evidently  Miss  Nielsen  can  not  find  the  things. 
Mr.  Wise  put  the  box  away,  and  will  know  where  it  is.^^ 

I left  the  table  and  stood  under  the  hatch  a moment  to  ad- 
dress a word  to  Nakier  in  that  wild  mad  spirit  of  defiance  that 
will  often  in  the  timidest  mock  at  peril  in  the  most  terrible  in- 
stant of  it. 

“ Make  your  men  understand,  I cried,  “ that  if  we  fall  in 
with  a man-of-war,  every  soul  of  them  stands  to  be  hanged  by 
the  neck  until  he  is  dead!^^ 

As  I said  these  words  I sprung,  caught  the  coaming  of  the 
hatch,  gained  the  deck  with  another  bound,  and  the  next  in- 
stant the  slide  of  the  hatch  was  swept  in  a roar  through  its 
grooves  by  the  powerful  hands  of  the  two  Deal  boatmen. 

“ Cotched!^^  cried  Abraham,  while  I swung  the  iron  bar  to 
the  staple  and  hooked  the  padlock  into  it. 


CHAPTEE  XXV. 
fike! 

Well,  and  if  this  here  ain^t  been  a right  down  sort  of 
proper  cajolin^  job  tew!  Strike  me  bald,  Mr.  Tregarthen,  if 
the  hexecution  of  this  here  trepanning  ain^t  vurth  a gold 
medal,  let  alone  the  planning  of  it!"'^  shouted  Jacob. 

I rose  from  my  knees  with  my  hand  upon  my  heart,  breath- 
ing short.  The  reaction  from  the  intense  mental  strain  of  the 
preceding  twenty  minutes  ran  a feeling  of  swooning  through 
my  brain,  but  the  fresh  air  and  sense  of  safety  speedily  rallied 
me.  Helga  stood  at  the  wheel  steering  the  bark.  I flourished 
my  arm  to  her,  and  she  kissed  her  hand  to  me.  Close  against 
the  securely  covered  hatch  stood  the  two  boatmen,  and  at  either 
man^s  feet  lay  a heavy  belaying-pin,  which,  as  I knew  by  what 
had  been  preconcerted,  had  been  gripped  by  their  powerful 
fists  ready  for  the  first  black  head  that  might  have  followed  me 
as  1 emerged. 

“ Never  should  ha^  believed  you  could  have  compassed  it!^^ 
exclaimed  Abraham.  “Never  could  ha^  supposed  that  such 
artful  chaps  as  them  darkies  was  so  easy  to  be  took  in!  A 


soc 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


hay-wan  piece  o’  acting,  Mr.  Tregartlien!  No  theayter  show 
that  e’er  I’ve  heard  of  or  sat  at  ever  came  up  to  it!” 

All  was  silent  below.  1 had  thought,  on  the  hatch  being  ^ 
thrust  to,  that  the  imprisoned  fellows  would  have  fallen  to 
beating  and  bawling.  There  was  not  a sound.  Were  they 
accepting  their  fate  with  the  resignation  of  the  Mussulman? 

The  scantling  of  the  hatch-cover  that  secured  them  was  of  un- 
usual thickness.  When  opened,  the  foremost  lid  slid  back 
on  top  of  the  other,  and  when  closed,  as  it  now  was,  it  was 
held  fast  to  the  coaming  by  a strong  iron-hinged  bar  fitting  to 
a staple  in  which  lay  a padlock.  The  after  lid  was  kept  do\^’n 
by  an  iron  batten,  so  that,  once  secured,  the  hatch-cover  was 
in  all  respects  as  impenetrable  from  above  or  below  as  the  deck 
itself.  Nor  were  we  under  any  apprehension  that  the  im- 
mured men  could  find  other  means  of  escaping.  The  bulk- 
head of  the  forecastle  was  a massive  wall  of  wood.  There  was, 
indeed,  a little  hatch  right  forward,  by  which  the  forepeak 
might  be  entered;  but  this  forepeak  was  also  stoutly  bulkhead- 
ed, with  the  cargo  in  the  hold  coming  hard  against  the  division; 
and  though  the  men  should  contrive  to  break  through  into  the 
hold,  the  secured  after  hatches  would  still  as  effectually  bar 
the  deck  to  them  as  though  every  mother’s  son  lay  helplessly 
manacled  in  the  bottom  of  the  ship, 

‘‘  Now,”  said  1,  “ the  poor  wretches  must  not  suppose  we 
mean  to  starve  them.  Murderers  though  they  be.  Heaven 
knows  one  can’t  but  pity  them,  seeing  what  the  wrong  was 
that  drove  them  into  crime.  Hush,  now,  that  I may  catch 
their  answer!” 

1 stepped  over  to  the  forecastle  chimney,  which,  as  I have 
already  told  you,  pierced  the  planks  close  against  the  opening 
under  the  topgallant-deck.  It  stood  as  high  as  a man;  my 
mouth  was  on  a level  with  the  orifice,  and  the  zigzag  funnel 
provided  as  excellent  a speaking-tube  as  though  designed  for 
that  and  no  other  purpose. 

Below,  there!”  1 cried  through  it,  and  thrice  did  I utter 
this  summons  before  I received  a response. 

“ What  you  wanchee?”  floated  up  a reply — thin,  reed-like, 
unreal,  a tone  not  to  be  distinguished. 

‘‘  I am  hailing  to  let  you  know  that  we  shall  keep  you  lib- 
erally supplied  with  food  and  fresh  water,”  1 shouted. 

‘‘  Plenty  of  fresh  air  will  blow  down  to  you  through  this  chim- 
ney. Take  notice:  You  are  securely  imprisoned.  There  is  no 
possibility  of  your  escaping.  At  the  same  time  if  you  make 
the  least  effort  to  release  yourselves  we  will  leave  you  to  starve 
below  and  to  perish  miserably  with  thirst.” 


MT  DANISH  SWEETHEAET.  ,30? 

“ What  do  you  mean  to  do  with  us?^^  was  the  faint  cry  that 
followed  my  speech. 

“ That  is  our  business/^  I roared  back.  “ Keep  you  quiet, 
and  you  shall  bo  well  usedT^ 

I waited  for  the  voice  to  speak  again,  but  all  remained 
hushed,  and  1 came  away  very  well  satisfied  to  know  that 
Nakier,  at  all  events,  would  understand  my  language  and 
translate  it  to  the  others. 

This  plot  had  been  so  carefully  prepared  that  we  knew  ex- 
actly what  to  do.  Our  first  business  was  to  shift  the  bark^s 
helm  and  trim  sail  for  the  Canaries — the  land  that  lay  nearest 
to  us — where,  at  Santa  Cruz,  we  might  count  upon  getting  all 
the  help  we  required.  We  briefly  arranged  that  Jacob  should 
keep  watch  at  the  hatch.  At  the  first  sound  of  disturbance 
below  he  was  to  call  us.  There  was  small  need  for  such  senti- 
neling, yet  our  fears  seemed  to  find  it  necessary,  at  the  outset, 
at  all  events,  for  they  were  eleven  to  three,  and  we  could  not 
foi^et  that,  securely  imprisoned  as  we  knew  them  to  be. 

I went  aft  with  Abraham.  My  brave  little  Helga,  on  my 
approach,  let  go  the  wheel,  and  extended  her  hands.  My  love 
for  her,  that  had  been  held  silent  in  my  heart  by  the  troubles, 
the  worries,  the  anxieties,  the  perils  which  had  been  pressing 
heavily  upon  us  for  many  days,  now  leaped  in  me,  a full  and 
abounding  emotion,  at  the  sight  of  her  sweet,  hopeful  face,  her 
brave  smile,  the  tender  congratulation  in  her  eyes,  her  out- 
stretched hands;  and,  taking  her  in  my  arms,  held  her  to  me, 
and  kissed  her  once,  and  yet  again.  Abraham,  grasping  a 
spoke  of  the  wheel,  swung  off  from  it,  giving  us,  with  -^long- 
shore modesty,  his  back,  as  he  gazed  steadfastly  over  the  stern. 
She  struggled  for  a moment,  and  was  then  quiet,  trying  to  hide 
her  blushing  face  against  my  shoulder. 

It  must  have  come  to  this,  Helga,^^  I whispered,  “ sooner 
or  later;  and  what  is  soonest  is  always  best,  my  love,  in  such 
matters.  You  are  mine  by  right  of  the  poor  old  ‘ Anine;^  you 
are  mine,  Helga,  by  right  of  your  father^s  commands  to  me.^^ 

I kissed  her  again,  released  her,  and  she  went  to  the  rail  and 
overhung  it  for  a few  minutes,  while  I waited  watching  her. 

“ Now,  dear  heart,^^  said  I,  ‘‘  kt  us  get  the  ship  round,  and 
you  shall  tell  us  what  course  to  steer  for  Santa  Cruz.^^ 

From  this  moment  we  were  too  busy  for  a long  while  to  think 
of  sentiment.  The  bark  was  under  all  plain  sail,  and  we  were 
but  three  men  to  get  the  yards  brs^ced  round.  The  wind  was 
a very  light  breeze,  the  sea  smooth  and  delicately  crisped,  the 
sky  a pure  azure,  unblurred  any  whore  by  so  much  as  a feather- 
tip  of  cloud.  Helga,  still  v/earing  ^a  rosy  face,  but  with  the 


308 


MV  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


very  spirit  of  happiness  and  hope  radiant  in  her  eycs—and  no 
better  sign  of  how  it  was  with  her  heart  could  I have  asked  of 
her — fetched  the  chart,  and,  having  determined  the  course, 
took  the  wheel  from  Abraham,  and  the  three  others  of  us 
went  to  work  with  the  braces.  We  sprung  about  in  red-hot 
haste,  since  none  of  us  liked  the  notion  of  leaving  the  hatch 
un watched  for  even  a few  minutes.  But  two  pairs  of  hands 
only  could  not  have  dealt  without  tedious  toil  with  those  yards. 

According  to  Captain  Bunting’s  reckoning,  we  had  been  in 
the  latitude  of  Madeira  on  Tuesday,  the  31st  of  October,  but, 
spite  of  our  having  been  hove  to  during  the  fierce  weather  of 
Nov.  the  1st  and  2d,  we  had  driven  heavily  to  the  southward,  so 
that  now  on  this  afternoon  of  Friday,  Nov.  3d,  we  computed 
our  distance  from  the  Canaries  to  oe  some  hundred  miles.  I can 
but  speak  as  my  memory  serves  me,  but  these  figures  I believe 
fairly  represent  the  distance.  The  light  wind  softly  humming 
in  our  rigging  out  of  the  north-east  would  not  suffer  the  bark 
to  lie  her  course  for  the  islands  by  a point  or  two,  but  this  was 
a matter  of  little  moment.  We  might  surely  count  from  one 
hour  to  another  now  on  heaving  some  sort  of  sail  into  sight, 
and  in  expectation  of  this  we  took  the  English  ensign  out  of 
the  locker  and  bent  it  on  to  the  peak  halyards  with  the  jack 
down  ready  for  hoisting  when  the  moment  arrived.  Not  that 
we  expected  that  any  merchantman  we  might  fall  in  with 
would  greatly  help  us.  It  was  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  a 
ship-master  would  consent  to  receive  a mutinous,  murderous 
crew  of  eleven  colored  men  into  his  vessel.  The  utmost  we 
could  hope  from  a ship  homeward  bound  like  ourselves  was 
the  loan  of  a couple  of  men  to  assist  us  in  navigating  the  bark 
to  Funchal. 

Indeed,  the  sense  of  our  necessity  in  this  way  grew  very 
strong  in  me  after  we  had  come  to  a pause  in  our  labor  of 
bracing  the  yards  up,  and  were  standing  near  the  forecastle 
hatch  pale  with  heat  and  wet  with  perspiration,  and  panting 
heavily — I say  I grew  mighty  sensible  of  the  slenderness  of  our 
little  crew  of  three  men  and  a girl — who,  to  be  sure,  in  her 
boy’s  clothes  would  have  been  the  nimblest  of  us  all  aloft, 
but  who  could  do  no  service  in  that  way  in  her  woman’s  dress 
— when  I sent  my  gaze  up  at  the  quiet  breasts  of  sail  softly 
swelling  one  upon  another,  and  rising  spire-like,  and  thought 
of  how  it  must  be  with  us  should  heavy  weather  set  in,  such  a 
gale  as  we  might  be  able  to  show  no  more  than  a close-reefed 
topsail  to,  nnle-’s  the  whole  fabric  of  masts  and  canvas  was  to 
go  overbo.ti'd. 

I said  to  Abraham: 


BAHISH  SWEETttEAKf. 


2(09 

you  think  we  could  safely  trust  a couple  of  those 
poor  devils  below — Punmeamootty,  for  example,  and  that 
tawny  fellow,  Mow  Lauree?  Weh’e  terribly  short-handed/'^ 

“ Ay,^^  he  answered,  “ short-handed  we  are,  as  you  say,  sir; 
but  trust  e^er  a one  of  ^em,  arter  the  trick  theyVe  been  sarved! 
Lord  love  ^ee!  the  first  thing  them  two  men  ^ud  do  whenso- 
ever our  backs  should  be  tamed  for  a moment  ^ud  be  to . lift 
that  hatch  there.  And  then  stand  by!^^ 

“ 'Soides,^^  exclaimed  Jacob,  “ this  ^eiVs  to  be  a sal  wage 
job,  and,  as  poor  old  Tommy  ^ud  ha^  said,  we  don’t  want  to 
make  no  more  shares  than  the  diwisions  what’s  already  repre- 
sented.” 

I was  not  to  have  been  infiuenced  by  Jacob’s  talk  about 
shares;  but  Abraham’s  remark  was  to  the  point;  it  convinced 
me,  and  I dropped  the  subject,  making  up  my  mind  to  this — • 
that,  if  the  wind  should  freshen,  there  was  nothing  for  it  but 
to  shorten  sail  as  best  we  could,  and  leave  what  we  could  not 
deal  with  to  blow  away. 

When  our  work  of  trimming  yards  was  ended,  I told  Jacob 
to  boil  a quantity  of  salt  beef  for  the  fellows  below,  that  they 
might  have  rations  to  last  them  several  days.  We  found  a 
breaker  stowed  away  in  the  long-boat,  and  this  we  filled  with 
fresh  water  from  the  scuttle-butt,  ready  to  hand  through  the 
hatch.  I was  very  earnest  in  this  work.  It  was  easily  imag- 
ined that  the  interior  in  which  the  men  lay  imprisoned  would  be 
desperately  hot,  with  no  more  air  to  get  to  them  than  such  as 
sulkily  sunk  out  of  the  listless  breeze  through  the  zigzag  chim- 
ney, and  with  the  planks  of  the  deck  above  their  heads  like 
the  top  of  an  oven  with  the  day-long  pouring  of  the  sun.  And, 
miscreants  as  they  were,  villains  as  I have  no  doubt  they  would 
have  ultimately  proved  themselves  to  us,  I could  not  endure 
to  think  of  them  as  athirst,  and  also  tormented  with  fears  that 
we  intended  to  leave  them  to  perish  of  that  most  horrible  form 
of  suffering. 

Yet  it  would  not  do  to  make  separate  parcels  of  the  provis* 
ions  we  intended  for  them.  We  must  open  the  hatch  at  our 
peril  while  we  lowered  the  food;  and  this  was  to  be  done  once, 
and  once  only. 

It  was  past  five  by  the  time  that  all  was  ready.  Twice  had  we 
heard  a sound  of  knocking  in  the  hatchway;  but  I guessed 
that  it  signified  a demand  for  water,  and  dared  take  no  notice 
of  it  until  we  were  prepared.  The  three  of  us — Helga  being 
at  the  wheel — armed  ourselves  with  a heavy  iron  belay ing-pin 
apiece,  and,  stationing  the  boatmen  at  the  hatch,  I put  my 


310 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


face  against  the  mouth  of  the  funnel  and  hailed  the  men 
through  it.  I was  instantly  answered: 

Yaas,  yaas,  sah!  Oh,  in  the  name  of  Allah,  water 

It  was  such  another  thin,  reed-like  voice  as  had  before 
sounded,  yet  not  the  same.  This  time  it  might  have  been 
Nakier  who  spoke. 

‘‘  We  are  going  to  give  you  water  and  food  now!^^  I shouted. 
“ We  will  open  the  hatch;  but  only  one  man  must  show  him- 
self to  receive  the  things.  If  more  than  one  of  you  shows  him- 
self we  will  close  the  hatch  instantly,  and  you  will  get  no 
water.  Do  you  understand  me?^^ 

Yaas,  yaas,^^  responded  the  voice,  sounding  in  my  ear  as 
though  it  were  half  a mile  distant.  “ We  swear  by  Allah  only 
one  man  he  show  hisself.^^ 

Let  that  man  be  Punmeamootty!^^  I bawled. 

I then  returned  to  the  hatch.  Jacob,  putting  the  belaying- 
pin  into  his  coat  pocket,  stood  abaft  ready  to  rush  the  lid  of 
the  hatch  to  at  a cry  from  me,  while  Abraham,  on  the  left, 
hung,  with  poised  weapon,  prepared  for  the  first  hint  of  a 
scramble  up  from' below.  I remember  the  look  in  his  face:  it 
was  as  though  he  were  already  fighting  for  his  life.  I slipped 
the  padlock,  withdrew  the  bar,  and  pushed  the  cover  back 
some  three  or  four  inches.  The  glare  on  the  deck  blinded  me 
when  I peered  down:  the  interior  seemed  as  black  as  midnight 
to  my  eyes. 

Are  you  there,  Punmeamootty?^^  I cried. 

1 heard  a faint  ‘‘  Yaas,^^  pronounced  in  a subdued,  terrified 
tone. 

“ Come  up  till  your  hands  show,^^  cried  I,  for  1 feared  that 
he  might  have  his  knife  drawn  and  would  stab  me  if  I put  my 
arms  down. 

His  hands,  with  extended  fingers,  rose  through  the  mere 
slice  of  opening  like  those  of  a drowning  man  above  water, 
and  then  I could  see  the  glimmer  of  his  eys  as  he  looked  up. 
Are  the  rest  of  you  well  away?’^ 

‘^Allee  standing  back!  Allee  standing  back!^^  he  ex- 
claimed, piteously. 

On  this  I pulled  the  hatch  open  a little  wider,  Abraham 
bending  over  it  with  the  belaying-pin  lifted;  and,  the  interstice 
being  now  wide  enough,  I fell  to  work  as  quickly  as  possible 
to  hand  down  the  provisions.  These  consisted  of  three  or  four 
bags  of  ship^s  bisc[iit  and  a number  of  largo  pieces  of  boiled 
salt  horse.  But  the  water-cask,  or  breaker  rather,  gave  me 
some  trouble.  VVliat  its  cajuicity  was  I do  not  know.  It  was 
too  heavy  lor  mo  to  deal  with  siuglo-haudedf  I called  Jacob, 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


311 


and  together  we  slung  it  in  a couple  of  bights  of  rope,  and, 
rolling  it  over  the  coaming,  lowered  away.  It  effectually 
blocked  the  hatch  while  it  hung  in  it,  and  Punmeamootty  had 
to  back  away  to  receive  it. 

This  done,  I threw  down  a few  pannikins,  not  knowing  but 
that  they  might  be  without  a drinking-vessel  in  the  forecastle, 
then  closed  the  hatch,  catching  a loud  cry  from  below  as  I did 
so;  but  I dared  not  pause  to  ask  what  it  was,  and  a moment 
later  the  cover  was  securely  bolted,  with  Jacob  sitting  upon  it, 
leisurely  pulling  out  his  pipe,  and  Abraham  and  I walking  aft. 

Some  time  later  than  this,  bringing  the  hour  to  about  six 
o^clock,  Helga  and  I were  eating  some  supper — 1 give  the 
black  tea,  the  biscuit,  and  beef  of  this  meal  the  name  they 
carry  at  sea — one  or  the  other  of  us  holding  the  wheel  that 
Abraham  might  obtain  some  sleep  in  the  cabin,  when  the  man 
Jacob,  who  was  trudging  a little  space  of  the  deck  forward, 
suddenly  called  to  me.  I left  the  v/heel  in  Helga^s  hand,  and 
made  my  way  to  the  boatman. 

‘‘  Oi  fear  them  chaps  is  a-suffocating  below,^^  said  he; 
“ they^re  a-knocking  desperate  hard  against  the  hatch,  and 
their  voices  has  been  a- pouring  through  that  there  chimney  as 
though  their  langage  wor  smoke.  Hark!  and  ye^ll hear  ^em. 

The  sound  of  beating  was  distinct.  I to  the  mouth  of 
the  funnel,  and  heard  a noise  of  wailing. 

‘‘  What  is  it?^^  I cried.  ‘‘  What  is  wrong  with  you  below?^* 

“Oh,  give  us  air,  sah!  give  us  air!^^  was  the  response. 
“ Some  men  die;  no  man  he  live  long  downee  hereT^ 

God  knows  to  whom  that  weak,  sick  voice  belonged.  It 
struck  a horror  into  me. 

“ We  must  give  them  air,  Jacob, I cried,  “ or  they^re  all 
dead  men.  What  is  to  be  done?’^ 

“ There^s  nowt  for  it  but  to  open  the  hatch/^  he  answered. 

“ Yes,^^  cried  I;  “ we  can  lay  bare  a little  space  of  tho 
hatchway — enough  to  freely  ventilate  the  forecastle.  But  how 
to  contrive  that  they  shall  not  slip  the  cover  far  enough  back 
to  enable  them  to  get  out?^^ 

He  thought  a moment,  then,  with  the  promptitude  that  is 
part  of  the  education  of  the  seafaring  life,  he  cried r 

“Ihaveit!’^ 

Next  moment  he  was  speeding  aft.  I saw  him  spring  into 
the  starboard  quarter-boat  with  an  energy  that  proved  his 
heart  an  honest  and  humane  one,  and  in  a trice  he  was  com- 
ing forward  holding  a couple  of  boat  stretchers — that  is  to  say, 
pieces  of  wood  which  are  placed  in  the  bottom  of  a boat  foT 
the  oarsman  to  strain  his  legs  against. 


312 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


‘‘  TheseMl  fit,  I allow/^  cried  he,  “ and  save  half  an  hour 
of  sawing  and  cutting  and  planing.^’ 

He  placed  them  parallel  upon  the  after-lid,  and  their  fore- 
most extremities  suffered  the  lid  which  traveled  to  be  opened 
to  a width  that  gave  plenty  of  scope  for  air,  but  through  which 
it  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  slenderest  human  figure 
to  squeeze.  Between  us  we  bound  these  stretchers  so  that  there 
was  no  possibility  of  their  shifting,  and  I then  tried  the  sliding 
cover,  and  found  it  as  hard-set  as  though  wholly  closed  and 
padlocked, 

‘‘  How  is  it  now  with  you?^^  I cried  through  this  interstice. 

The  reply  came  in  the  form  of  a near  chorus  of  murmurs, 
which  gave  me  to  know  that  all  the  poor  wretches  had  drawn 
together  under  the  hatch  to  breathe.  I desired  to  be  satisfied 
that  there  was  air  enough  for  them,  and  called  again: 

‘‘  How  is  it  with  you  now,  men?^^ 

This  time  I could  distinctly  recognize  the  melodious  voice  of 
Nakier: 

‘‘It  is  allee  right  now.  Oh!  how  sweet  is  dis  breeving. 
Why  you  wanchee  keep  us  here?^^ 

He  was  proceeding,  but  1 cut  him  short;  the  liberation  of 
the  wretched  creatures  was  not  to  be  entertained  for  an  in- 
stant, and  it  could  merely  grieve  my  heart  to  the  quick,  with- 
out staggering  my  resolution,  to  listen  to  the  protests  and  ap- 
peals of  them  as  they  stood  directly  under  the  hatch  in  that 
small,  black,  oppressive  hole  of  a forecastle. 

After  this  all  remained  quiet  among  them.  1 w^as  happy  to 
believe  that  they  were  free  from  suffering;  but,  though  I knew 
the  hatch  to  be  as  secure  as  though  it  were  shut  tight  and  the 
hinged  bar  bolted,  yet  it  was  impossible  not  to  feel  unaasy  at 
the  thought  of  its  lying  even  a little  way  open.  Of  all  the 
nights  that  Helga  and  I had  as  yet  passed,  this  one  of  Friday, 
November  the  3d,  was  the  fullest  of  anxiety,  the  most  horribly 
trying.  The  wind  held  very  light;  the  darkness  was  richly 
burdened  with  stars,  there  was  much  fire  in  the  sea  too,  and 
the  moon,  that  was  drawing  on  to  her  half,  rode  in  brilliance 
over  the  dark  world  of  waters  which  mirrored  her  light  in  a 
wedge  of  rippling  silver  that  seemed  to  sink  a hundred  miles 
deep.  We  dared  not  leave  the  hatch  unwatched  a minute,  and 
our  little  company  of  four  we  divided  into  watches,  thus:  one 
man  to  sentinel  the  Malays,  two  resting,  the  fourth  at  the 
wheel.  But  there  was  to  be  no  rest  for  me,  nor  could  Helga 
sleep,  and  for  the  greater  space  of  the  night  we  kept  the  deck 
together. 

Yet  there  were  times  whoa  anxiety  would  yield  to  a quiet, 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


313 


pure  emotion  of  happiness,  when  I had  my  little  sweetheart’s 
hand  under  my  arm,  and  when  by  the  clear  light  of  the  moon 
I gazed  upon  her  face  and  thought  of  her  as  my  own,  as  my 
first  love,  to  be  my  wife  presently,  as  I might  hope—a  gift  of 
sweetness  and  of  gentleness  and  of  heroism,  as  it  might  well 
seem  to  me,  from  old  Ocean  herself.  That  she  loved  me 
fondly  1 did  truly  believe  and,  indeed,  know.  It  might  be  that 
the  memory  of  her  father’s  words  to  me  had  directed,  and  now 
consecrated,  her  affection.  She  loved  me,  too,  as  one  who 
had  adventured  his  life  to  save  hers,  who  had  suffered  griev- 
ously in  that  attempt — as  one,  moreover,  whom  bereavement, 
whom  distress,  j)rivation,  all  that  we  had  endured,  in  short, 
had  rendered  intimate  to  her  heart  as  a friend,  and,  as  it  might 
be,  now  that  her  father  wa^  gone  and  she  was  a girl  destitute 
of  means,  her  only  friend.  All  had  happened  since  October 
the  21sfc:  it  was  now  the  3d  of  November.  A little  less  than 
a fortnight  had  sufficed  for  the  holding  of  this  wild,  adventur- 
ous, tragical,  yet  sweet  passage  of  our  lives.  But  how  much 
may  happen  in  fourteen  days!  Seeds  sown  in  the  spirit  have 
time  to  shoot,  to  bud,  and  to  blossom — ay,  and  often  to  wither 
— in  a shorter  compass  of  time.  Was  my  dear  mother  living? 
Oh!  I might  hope  that,  seeing  that  if  ever  Captain  Bunting’s 
message  about  me  had  been  delivered,  she  would  before  this 
be  knowing  that  I was  safe,  or  alive,  at  least.  What  would 
she  think  of  Helga?  What  of  me,  coming  back  with  a sweet- 
heart, and  eager  for  marriage? — coming  back  with  a young 
girl  of  whom  I could  tell  her  no  more  than  this:  that  she  was 
brave  and  good  and  gentle;  a heroic  daughter;  all  that  was 
lovely  and  fair  in  girlhood  meeting  in  her  Danish  and  English 
blood;  with  face,  with  speech,  with  manners  whose  simple  elo- 
quence of  appeal  could  need  no  words  from  me. 

The  morning  broke.  All  through  the  night  there  had  been 
silence  in  the  forecastle;  but  daylight  showed  how  the  extreme 
vigilance  of  those  long  hours  had  worked  in  my  face,  as  1 
might  tell  by  no  other  mirror  than  Helga’s  eyes,  whose  gaze 
was  full  of  concern  as  we  viewed  each  other  by  the  spreading 
light  of  the  dawn.  There  was  the  dim  gleam  of  a ship’s  can- 
vas right  abreast  of  us  to  starboard,  and  that  was  all  to  be  seen 
the  whole  horizon  round. 

After  we  had  got  breakfast,  the  three  of  us  went  forward 
and  received  the  empty  breaker  from  the  fellows  below,  con- 
triving on  our  removing  the  stretchers  so  to  pose  ourselves  as 
to  be  ready  to  beat  down  the  first  of  them  if  a rush  should  be 
attempted,  and  instantly  close  the  hatch.  The  breaker  came 
empty  to  our  hands.  We  filled  and  lowered  it  as  on  the  pro- 


314 


MT  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


vious  evening,  then  left  the  hatch  a little  open  as  before;  and 
now,  so  far  as  the  provisioning  of  the  fellows  was  concerned, 
our  work  for  the  day  was  ended,  seeing  that  they  had  beef  and 
biscuit  enough  to  last  them  for  several  days.  They  made  no 
complaint  as  to  the  heat  or  want  of  air;  but  after  we  had  low- 
ered the  little  cask,  and  were  fixing  the  stretchers,  several  of 
them  shouted  out  to  know  what  we  meant  to  do  with  them, 
and  I heard  Nakier  vowing^that  if  we  released  them  they  would 
be  honest,  that  they  had  sworn  by  the  Koran  and  would  go  to 
hell  if  they  deceived  us;  but  we  went  on  securing  the  hatch 
with  deaf  ears,  and  then  Jacob  and  1 went  aft,  leaving  Abra- 
ham to  watch. 

The  sun  was  hanging  about  two  hours  and  a half  high  over 
the  western  sea-line  that  afternoon,  when  the  light  air  that  had 
been  little  more  than  a crawling  wind  all  day  freshened  into  a 
pleasant  breeze  with  weight  enough  slightly  to  incline  the 
broad-beamed  bark.  This  pleasant  warm  blowing  was  a re- 
freshment to  every  sense:  it  poured  cool  upon  our  heated  faces; 
it  raised  a brook-like  murmur,  a sound  as  of  some  shallowfret- 
ting  stream  on  either  hand  the  vessel;  and,  above  all,  it  soothed 
us  with  a sense  and  reality  of  motion,  for  the  bark  broke 
the  smooth  waters  bravely,  and  the  wake  of  her,  polished  and 
iridescent  as  oil,  went  away  astern  to  the  scope  of  two  or  three 
cables.  A few  wool-white  clouds  floated  along  the  slowly  dark- 
ening blue  like  puffs  of  steam  from  the  funnel  of  a newly 
started  locomotive;  but  they  had  not  the  look  of  the  trade 
cloud,  Helga  said.  She  had  taken  sights  at  noon,  had  worked 
out  the  vessel’s  reckoning,  and  had  made  me  see  that  it  would 
not  need  very  many  hours  of  sailing  to  heave  the  high  land  of 
Teneriffe  into  sight  over  the  bow,  if  only  wind  enough  would 
hold  to  give  the  old  bucket  that  floated  under  us  headway. 

I was  holding  the  wheel  at  this  hour  I am  speaking  of,  and 
Helga  was  abreast  of  me  leaning  against  the  rail,  sending  her 
soft  blue  glances  round  the  sea  as  she  talked.  Abraham,  with 
a pipe  in  his  mouth,  his  arms  folded,  and  his  head  depressed, 
was  slowly  marching  up  and  down  beside  the  forecastle  hatch. 
Jacob  lay  sound  asleep  upon  a locker  in  the  cuddy  within  easy 
reach  of  a shout  down  the  companion-way  or  through  the  sky- 
light. 

On  a sudden  my  attention  was  taken  from  what  Helga  was 
saying,  and  I found  myself  staring  at  the  main-mast,  which  was 
what  is  called  at  sea  a “ bright  mast— that  is  to  say,  un- 
painted, so  that  the  slowly  crimsoning  sun  found  a reflection 
in  it  and  the  western  splendor  lay  in  a line  of  pinkish  radiance 
upon  the  surface  of  the  wood.  This  line,  along  with  a portion 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


315 


of  the  spar,  to  the  height  perhaps  of  eighteen  or  twenty  feet, 
seemed  to  be  slowly  revolving,  as  though,  in  fact,  it  were  part 
of  a gigantic  corkscrew,  quietly  turned  from  the  depth  of  the 
hold.  At  first  1 believed  it  might  be  the  heat  of  the  atmos- 
phere. Helga,  observing  that  I stared,  looked  too,  and  in- 
stantly cried  out: 

“ Hugh,  the  vessel  is  on  fire!^^ 

Why,  yes!^^  I exclaimed;  “ that  bluish  haze  is  smoke!^^ 

I had  scarcely  pronounced  these  words  when  Abraham,  with 
his  face  turned  our  way,  came  to  a dead  halt,  peered,  and  then 
roared  out: 

“ Mr.  Tregarthen,  there^s  smoke  a-filtering  up  out  of  the 
main  hatch 

“ Take  this  wheel said  I to  Helga;  then,  m a bound,  I 
gained  the  skylight,  into  which  I roared  with  all  my  lungs  for 
Jacob  to  come  on  deck.  As  I ran  forward  1 could  see  the 
smoke  thinly  rising  in  bluish  wreaths  and  eddies  round  about 
the  sides  of  the  main  hatch  and  from  under  the  mast-coat  at 
the  foot  of  the  main-mast, 

“ They’re  a-shouting  like  demons  in  the  fok’sle,  sir,^^  cried 
Abraham,  throwing  his  pipe  overboard  in  his  excitement. 

They  have  set  fire  to  the  ship!’^  I cried.  Does  smoke 
rise  from  the  fok’sle?’^ 

‘‘Yes!  ye  may  see  it  now!— ye  may  see  it  now!’^  he  bawled. 

In  the  moment  or  two’s  pause  that  followed  1 heard  the  half- 
muffled  shouts  of  the  dark-skinned  crew,  with  one  or  two 
clearer  voices,  as  though  a couple  of  the  fellows  had  got  their 
mouths  close  against  the  narrow  opening  in  the  hatch.  I 
rushed  forward  from  abreast  of  the  main-mast,  where  I had 
come  to  a stand. 

“What  is  wrong?”  I cried.  “ Where  is  this  smoke  com- 
ing from?” 

A voice  answered— it  was  Nakier’s — but  his  dark  skin 
blended  with  the  gloom  out  of  which  he  spoke,  and  I could  not 
see  him. 

“ Some  man  hab  taken  de  fork’sle  lamp  into  de  forepeak, 
and  hab  by  haccident  set  fire  to  de  cargo  by  putting  de  lamp 
troo  a hole  in  de  bulkhead.  For  your  God’s  sake  let  we  out, 
or  we  burn!” 

“ Is  this  a trick?”  cried  I to  Abraham, 

“Test  it,  sir! — test  it  by  opening  the  main  hatch!”  he 
shouted. 

Jacob  had  by  this  time  joined  us.  In  a few  moments  we 
had  removed  the  battens  and  torn  off  the  tarpaulin,  but  at  the 
first  rise  of  the  after-hatch  cover  that  we  laid  our  hands  upon 


31G 


MY  DAKISia  SWEETHEAM. 


up  belched  a volume  of  smoke,  with  so  much  more  following 
that  each  man  of  us  started  back  to  catch  his  breath.  Now 
could  be  plainly  heard  a noise  of  shrieking  forward. 

“ My  God!  men,  what  shall  we  do?^^  I cried,  almost  para- 
lyzed by  this  sudden  confrontment  of  the  direst  peril  that  can 
befall  humanky  at  sea,  but  rendered  in  our  case  inexpressibly 
more  horrible  yet,  to  my  mind,  by  the  existence  of  the  pent- 
up  wretches  whom  1 felt,  even  in  that  moment  of  stupefying 
consternation,  we  dared  not  liberate  while  we  remained  on 
board. 

“ What^s  to  be  done?^^  cried  Jacob,  whose  wits  seemed  less 
abroad  than  Abraham^s.  “ Ask  yourself  the  question.  The 
wesseFs  on  fire,  and  we  must  leave  her  if  we  aink  to  be 
burned. 

“ What!  leave  the  Malays  to  perish?^^  1 exclaimed. 

“ Let^s  smother  this  smoke  down  first,  anyways,^^  cried 
Abraham,  and  he  and  his  mate  put  the  hatch  on. 

Helga,^^  I shouted,  ‘‘  drop  the  wheel!  Come  to  us  here  I 
The  ship  is  on  fire!^^ 

She  came  running  along  the  poop. 

“ See  this!’’  cried  Abraham,  extending  his  arms,  which 
trembled  with  the  hurry  and  agitation  of  his  mind;  ‘‘  if  them 
fellows  forrads  are  not  to  be  burned— and  oh!  my  Gord,  listen 
to  them  a-singing  out! — we  must  provision  a quarter-boat  and 
get  away,  and,  afore  casting  off,  one  of  us  must  pull  them 
stretchers  off  that  the  men  may  get  out.  Who^s  to  be  that 
last  man?  I willT^ 

“No,  ye  can^t  swim,  Abey!  That  must  bo  moy  job,^' 
shouted  Jacob. 

“ I can  lay  hold  of  a buoy,  an^  jump  overboard. 

“ It^ll  be  moy  job,  1 tell  ye!^’  passionately  cried  Jacob. 

“ Oh,  hark  to  those  poor  creatures  !^^  exclaimed  Helga. 

“ Quick!^^  cried  1.  “ Abraham  has  told  us  what  to  do. 

Oh!  there  would  be  no  need  for  this  horrible  haste  but  for 
those  imprisoned  men!  Hear  them!  Hear  them!^' 

It  was  a wild  and  dreadful  chorus  of  lamentation,  mingled 
with  such  wailings  as  might  rise  in  the  stillness  following  a 
scene  of  battle.  The  noise  was  scarcely  human.  It  seemed 
to  proceed  from  famished  or  wounded  jackals  and  hyenas. 
But  to  liberate  them — every  man  armed  as  he  was  with  a 
sheath-knife  deadly  as  a kreese  in  those  dingy  fists — every  man 
infuriated—it  was  not  to  be  dreamed  of! 

As  swiftly  as  wo  could  ply  our  legs  and  arms,  we  victualed 
the  starboard  quarter-boat.  Provisions  were  to  our  hands;  wo 
threw  them  in  ])l(jnlirully  - r;' mains  of  cooked  meat,  biscuit. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


81? 


cheese,  and  the  like;  we  took  from  each  boat  the  breaker  that 
belonged  to  her,  filled  them  both  with  water,  and  stowed  them. 
The  sail  belonging  to  the  boat  lay  snugged  in  a yellow  water- 
proof cover  along  the  mast;  there  were  oars  in  her — all  other 
furniture  indeed  that  properly  belonged  to  her — rowlocks,  rud- 
der, yoke;  and  the  boatmen,  old  hands  at  such  work  as  this, 
nimbly  but  carefully  saw  that  the  plug  was  in  its  place. 

All  the  time  that  we  worked  there  was  rising  out  of  the  fore- 
castle hatch  the  dreadful  noise  of  lamentation,  of  cries,  of  en- 
treaties. It  was  a sound  to  goad  us  into  red-hot  haste,  and  we 
labored  as  though  we  were  eight  instead  of  four. 

“ Now,  Mr.  Tregarthen,^^  cried  Abraham,  if  we  ainH  to 
be  pursued  by  them  savages  on  our  liberating  of  ^em,  we 
must  cut  them  there  falls. 

And  he  pointed  to  the  tackles  which  suspended  the  other 
boat  at  the  port  davits. 

“ Do  so!^^  said  I. 

He  sprung  on  to  the  rail,  and  passed  his  knife  through  the 
ends  of  the  falls.  This  effectually  put  an  end  to  all  chance  of 
the  fellows  chasing  us  in  that  boat. 

“ Therein  be  plenty  o^  time  for  them  to  get  the  long-boat 
out,’^  shouted  Abraham,  running  across  the  deck  to  us. 
“ They^re  seamen,  and  there^s  Nakier  to  tell  ^em  what  to  do.^^ 

“ Eot  ^em  for  firing  the  ship!^^  cried  Jacob.  I donT  be- 
lieve she  is  on  fire.  They^ve  made  a smoke  to  scare  us  out  of 
her!^^ 

“ Is  everything  ready 1 exclaimed. 

‘‘  Hugh!^^  cried  Helga,  clasping  her  hands,  “ I have  forgot- 
ten my  little  parcel — the  picture  and  the  Bible 

She  was  about  to  fetch  them. 

“ I can  be  quicker  than  you,^^  1 cried,  and,  rushing  to  the 
hatch,  jumped  down  it,  gained  the  cabin  she  had  occupied  in 
Captain  Bunting^s  time,  and  snatched  up  the  little  parcel  that 
lay  in  the  bunk.  There  was  no  smoke  down  here.  I sniffed 
shrewdly,  but  could  catch  not  the  least  savor  of  burning.  It 
is  the  fore  part  of  the  ship  that  is  on  fire,  I thought.  As  1 ran 
to  regain  the  hatch,  it  somehow  entered  my  mind  to  recollect 
that  while  looking  for  a lead-pencil  in  the  chief  maters  berth, 
on  the  previous  day,  I had  found  a small  bag  of  sovereigns  and 
shillings,  the  unhappy  man^s  savings — all,  perhaps,  that  he 
possessed  in  the  world — the  noble  fruits  of  Heaven  knows  how 
many  years  of  hard  suffering  and  bitter  labor!  I was  without 
a halfpenny  in  my  pocket,  and  entered  the  cabin  to  take  this 
money,  which  I might  hope  to  be  able  to  repay  to  some  next 
of  kin  of  the  poor  fellow,  should  1 ever  get  to  hear  of  such  a 


318 


MY  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


person,  and  which  in  any  case  would  be  more  serviceable  in  mt 
pocket  than  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  whither  it  was  now  tend- 
ing. Having  secured  the  money,  which  would  be  very  useful 
to  Helga  and  me,  should  we  live  to  reach  a port,  1 hastened 
on  to  the  poop,  heart-sickened  by  the  dull  noise  of  the  cease- 
less crying  forward. 

“ Now,^^  said  I,  “ let  us  lower  away  in  the  name  of  mercy, 
if  only  to  free  those  wretches,  half  of  whom  may  be  already 
suffocated. 

Helga  and  1 got  into  the  boat,  and  Abraham  and  his  mate 
smartly  slackened  away  the  tackles.  In  a few  moments  we 
were  water-borne,  with  the  blocks  released — for  there  was  little 
left  for  me  to  learn  in  those  days  of  the  handling  and  manage- 
ment of  a boat — and  myself  standing  in  the  bow,  holding  on 
by  the  end  of  the  painter  which  I had  passed  through  a mizzen- 
channel  plate.  Abraham  came  down  hand  over  hand  by  one 
of  the  tackles,  and  dropped  into  the  boat,  instantly  falling  to 
work  to  step  the  mast  and  clear  away  the  sail. 

“ Below  there!^^  roared  Jacob;  ‘‘  look  out  for  these  duds!^^ 
and  down  came  first  his  boots,  then  his  cap,  then  his  coat,  and 
then  his  waistcoat.  “ 1^11  jump  overboard  from  this  ^ere 
quarter he  bawled.  Stand  by  to  pick  me  up!^^ 

The  released  helm  had  suffered  the  bark  to  come  up  into 
the  wind,  and  she  lay  aback  with  a very  slow  leewardly  trend. 
The  breeze  held  the  water  briskly  rippling,  but  the  plain  of 
the  ocean  was  wonderfully  smooth,  with  a faint,  scarce  notice- 
able swell  lightly  breathing  in  it. 

‘‘Mr.  Tregarthen,^^  exclaimed  Abraham,  “ you^ll  pull  a 
stouter  oar  than  Miss  Nielsen.  Supposin*  the  lady  stands  by 
that  there  painter 

“ Eight 1 exclaimed,  and  on  the  girl  entering  the  bows 
Abraham  and  1 seized  an  oar  apiece  in  readiness  for  Jacobis 
leap. 

We  lay  close  alongside,  so  that  nothing  was  visible  save  the 
length  of  the  ship^s  black  side  and  her  overhanging  yardarms, 
and  the  thick  lines  of  her  shrouds  rising  to  the  lower  mast- 
heads. It  was  a breathless  time.  I had  no  fear  for  Jacob;  1 
guessed  that  the  imprisoned  wretches  would  be  too  dazed  by 
the  glaring  sunshine  and  by  the  fresh  air  and  by  their  deliver- 
ance from  the  stifling,  smoke-thickened  gloom  of  the  forecastle 
to  catch  him  even  should  they  pursue  him  ere  he  jumped. 
Nevertheless,  those  moments  of  waiting,  of  expectation,  of 
suspense,  strung  the  nerves  in  one  to  the  tension  of  fiddle- 
strings,  and  sensation  was  sharpened  into  a sort  of  anguish. 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


319 


Not  more  than  three  minutes  elapsed — yet  it  seemed  an  hour. 
Then  in  a hoarse  roar  right  over  our  heads  sounded  a shout: 

“ Look  out^  now!^^ 

“ Let  go!^^  shrieked  Abraham. 

Helga  dropped  the  line  that  held  the  boat. 

“ Back  a-starn,  now!^^ 

The  fellow  poled  the  boat  off,  while  I put  my  whole  strength 
into  the  oar  I gripped.  1 caught  a glimpse  of  Jacob  poising 
and  stooping  with  his  arms  outstretched  and  his  finger-ends 
together;  his  body  whizzed  through  the  air,  his  arms  and  head 
striking  the  water  as  clean  as  a knife;  then  up  rose  his  purple 
face  at  a distance  of  three  boats^  lengths.  A thrust  of  the 
oar  brought  us  alongside  of  him,  and,  while  1 grabbed  him  by 
the  neck  to  help  him  inboard,  Abraham  was  hoisting  the  sail, 
with  Helga  at  the  yoke-lines,  quietly  waiting  for  the  sheet  to 
be  hauled  aft. 

‘‘  Bravely  done,  Jacob, cried  1.  ‘‘  There’s  a bottle  of 

brandy  in  the  stern-sheets.  Take  a pull  at  it!  The  sun  will 
speedily  dry  you.” 

Where’s  the  Malays?”  exclaimed  Abraham. 

“ Didn’t  stop  to  see,”  answered  Jacob.  1 chucked  the 
stretchers  off  and  sung  down  ‘ Ye  can  come  up/  and  then 
bolted.  ” 

“ There’s  Eakier I”  cried  Helga. 

And  there’s  Punmeamootty!”  1 called. 

1 was  astounded  by  observmg  the  figures  of  these  two  fel- 
lows quietly  gazing  at  us  from  the  forecastle.  Almost  imme- 
diately after  they  had  appeared  others  joined  them,  and  before 
our  boat  had  fairly  got  way  upon  her  1 counted  the  whole 
eleven  of  them.  They  stood  in  a body  with  Nakier  in  the  thick 
of  them  surveying  us  as  coolly  as  though  their  ship  were  at 
anchor,  and  all  were  well,  and  we  were  objects  of  curiosity 
merely. 

Why,  what’s  the  matter  with  ’em?”  cried  Abraham, 
“ Are  they  waiting  for  us  to  sing  out  to  tell  ’em  what  to  do?’' 

He  had  scarcely  spoken  the  words  when  a loud  shout  of 
laughter  broke  from  the  dingy  little  mob,  accompanied  by 
much  ironical  fiourishing  of  hands,  while  Kakier,  springing  on 
to  the  rail,  pulled  his  hat  off  and  repeatedly  bowed  to  us.  We 
were  too  much  astounded  to  do  more  than  gape  at  them.  A 
minute  later  Nakier  sprung  back  again  on  to  the  forecastle  and 
piped  out  some  orders  in  his  melodious  voice,  in  which,  as- 
suredly, the  most  attentive  ear  could  have  detected  nothing  of 
the  weakness  that  I had  noticed  in  his  cries  to  us  through  the 
half-closed  hatch.  Instantly  the  men  distributed  themselves. 


320 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


one  of  them  running  to  the  wheel;  and  while  we  continued  to 
gaze,  mute  with  amazement,  the  foretopsail-yard  was  swung, 
the  bark^s  head  slowly  fell  off,  the  yards  were  then  again  braced 
up,  and  behold!  the  little  vessel,  with  her  head  at  about  south, 
was  softly  breaking  the  waters,  with  the  after  yards  swinging 
as  they  were  squared  by  the  braces  to  the  north-east  wind. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

HOME. 

There  was  small  need  to  go  on  staring  and  gaping  for  any 
length  of  time  to  discover  that  we  were  the  victims  of  an 
out  and  away  shrewder,  cleverer,  subtler  stratagem  than  we 
had  practiced  upon  those  dark-skins.  I could  not  perceive  any 
smoke  rising  from  the  forecastle.  The  fellows  had  been  much 
too  clever  to  accept  the  risk  of  suffocation  as  a condition  of 
their  escape.  Abraham  had  assured  me  that  the  bulkhead 
which  divided  the  forepeak  from  the  main  hold  was  as  strong 
as  any  timber  wall  could  well  be;  but  there  was  either  some 
damage,  some  rent,  some  imperfection  in  the  bulkhead,  which 
provided  access  to  the  hold,  or  the  crew,  jobbing  with  Asiatic 
patience  at  the  plank  with  their  sharp  knives,  had  penetrated 
it,  having  had  all  last  night  and  all  this  day  to  do  the  work 
in. 

A very  little  thing  will  make  a very  great  deal  of  smoke. 
The  burning  of  a small  blanket  might  suffice  to  fill  the  hold 
of  a much  bigger  ship  than  that  bark  with  a smell  of  fire 
strong  enough  and  rolls  of  vapor  dense  enough  to  fill  the  crew 
with  consternation  and  drive  them  to  the  boats.  While  the 
fellows  kept  the  hatch  of  the  forepeak  closed  the  smoke  could 
hardly  filter  through  into  the  forecastle.  I can  but  conjecture 
how  they  managed;  but  the  triumphant  evidence  of  their  clev- 
erness lay  clear  to  our  gaze  in  the  spectacle  of  the  bark  slowly 
I dra  wing  away  into  the  morning  blue  of  the  south  and  west. 

' When  the  two  boatmen  saw  how  it  was,  I thought  they 
would  have  jumped  overboard  in  their  passion.  Abraham,  as 
usual,  flung  his  cap  into  the  bottom  of  the  boat  and  roared  at 
the  receding  figure  of  the  ship  as  though  she  were  hard  by,  and 
the  men  aboard  attentively  listening  to  him.  Jacob,  soaking 
wet,  his  black  hair  plastered  upon  his  brow,  and  his  face  as 
purple  now  with  temper  as  it  Lad  before  been  when  he  rose 
half-strangled  out  of  the  water,  chimed  in,  and  together  they 
shouted. 

Then,  turning  upon  me,  Abraham  bawled  out  that  he  would 
follow  them. 


Ut  BANISH  SWEETHEART. 


331 


This  here^s  a fast  boat/^  he  vociferated,  “ Here  be  oars 
to  help  her  canvas.  Think  them  colored  scaramouches  is 
a-going  to  rob  me  of  my  salvage?  Is  it  to  be  all  bad  luck — 
fust  the  * Airly  Marn/  and  now/^  cried  he,  wildly  pointing  at 
the  bark,  a job  that  might  ha’ been  worth  three  or  four  hun- 
dred pound  a man!  And  to  be  tricked  by  such  creatures!  to 
be  made  to  feel  sorrjr  by  their  howling  and  wailing!  to  watch 
’em  a-sailing  away  with  what’s  properly  moine  and  Jacob’s, 
and  your’n!  Whoy,  there’s  money  enough  for  a fust-class 
marriage  and  the  loife  of  a gentleman  arterwards  in  a single 
share  of  the  sal  wage  that  them  beasts  has  robbed  us  of!” 

And  so  he  went  on;  and  when  he  paused  for  breath  Jacob  fell 
a-shouting  in  a like  strain. 

Meanwhile  Helga,  at  the  helm  wffch  a composed  face,  was 
making  the  boat  hug  the  wind,  and  the  little  fabric,  bowed 
down  hy  the  spread  of  lug  till  the  line  of  her  gunwale  was 
within  a hand’s-breadth  of  the  water,  was  buzzing  along  at  a 
speed  that  was  fast  dwindling  the  heap  of  square  canvas  astern 
into  a tcy-like  space  of  white.  At  last  Abraham  and  his  mate 
fell  silent;  they  seated  themselves,  looking  with  dogged  faces 
over  their  folded  arms  at  the  diminishing  bark. 

For  my  part,  long  before  the  two  honest  fellows  had  made 
an  end  of  their  temper  I had  ceased  to  think  of  the  Malays  and 
the  trick  they  had  put  up  on  us.  Here  we  were  now  in  a little 
open  boat — three  men  and  a girl— in  the  heart  of  a spacious 
field  of  sea,  with  nothing  in  sight,  and  no  land  nearer  to  us 
than  the  Great  Canary,  which  lay  many  leagues  distant,  and 
for  which  the  north-east  wind  would  not  suffer  us  to  head  on 
a dii:ect  course.  Here  was  a situation  heavy  and  significant 
enough  to  fill  the  mind,  and  leave  no  room  for  other  thoughts. 
And  yet  1 do  not  know  that  I was  in  the  least  degree  appre- 
hensive. The  having  the  bark’s  forecastle  filled  with  a crew 
of  fellows  whose  first  business  would  have  been  to  slaughter 
us  three  men  on  their  breaking  out  had  weighed  intolerably 
upon  my  spirits.  It  was  a dreadful  danger,  a horrible  obliga- 
tion now  passed,  and  my  heart  felt  comparatively  light,  forlorn 
and  perilous  as  our  situation  still  was.  Then,  again,  I found 
a sort  of  support  in  the  experiences  I had  passed  through  on 
the  raft  and  in  the  lugger.  The  mind  is  always  sensible  of  a 
shock  on  leaving  the  secure  high  deck  of  a ship,  and  looking 
abroad  upon  the  vast,  pitiless  breast  of  old  ocean  from  the 
low  elevation  of  a boat’s  side.  I have  heard  of  this  sort  of 
transition  paralyzing  the  stoutest-hearted  of  a shipwrecked 
crew;  for  in  no  other  situation  does  death  seem  to  come  nearer 
to  one,  floating  close  alongside,  as  it  were,  and  chilling  the  hot- 


322 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


est  air  of  the  tropics  to  the  taste  and  quality  of  a frosty  blast; 
and  in  no  other  situation  does  human  helplessness  find  a like 
accentuation,  so  illimitable  are  the  reaches  of  the  materialized 
eternity  upon  which  the  tiny  structure  rests,  the  very  stars  by 
night  looking  wan  and  faintly  glittering,  as  though  the  found- 
ered gaze  had  rendered  their  familiar  and  noted  distances 
measureless  compared  to  their  height  from  a ship^s  deck  or 
from  solid  earth. 

But,  as  I have  it  in  my  mind  to  say,  our  experiences  in  the 
raft  and  the  open  lugger  were  so  recent  that  it  was  impossible  to 
feel  all  this  vastness  and  nearness  of  the  deep  and  the  unutter- 
able solitude  of  our  tiny  speck  of  fabric  in  the  midst  of  it,  as 
though  one  came  fresh  from  days  of  bulwarked  heights  and 
broad  white  decks  to  the  situation.  Helga  surrendered  the 
helm  to  Abraham,  and  the  boat  blew  nimbly  along  over  that 
summer  stretch  of  sea;  Abraham  steering  with  a mortified 
face;  Jacob  leaning  upon  the  weather  gunwale  with  his  chin 
upon  his  arms,  sullenly  gazing  into  vacancy;  and  Helga  and 
I a little  forward,  talking  in  a low  voice  over  the  past. 
What  new  adventure  was  this  we  had  entered  upon?  Should 
we  come  off  with  our  lives  after  all?  The  tigress  ocean  had 
shown  herself  in  many  moods  since  1 had  found  myself  within 
reach  of  her  claws.  She  was  slumbering  now.  The  dusky  lid 
of  night  was  closing  upon  the  huge  open  trembling  blue  eye. 
Should  we  have  escaped  her  before  she  aroused  herself  in 
wrath? 

The  sun  was  now  low  upon  the  horizon,  and  the  sky  was  a 
flashing  scarlet  to  the  zenith,  and^of  a violet  dimness  eastward, 
where  a streak  or  two  of  delicate  cloud  caught  the  western 
glory  and  lay  like  some  bits  of  chiseling  in  bronze  in  those 
tender  depths. 

“ There  ain^t  nothen  in  sight,’^  said  Jacob,  resuming  his  seat 
after  a long  look  round;  “ we  shall  have  to  go  through  the 
night. 

“ Well,  I^ve  been  out  in  worse  weather  than  this,^^  exclaimed 
Abraham. 

“ Pity  the  breeze  doesn^t  draw  more  north  or  south,^^  said 
1.  “ The  boat  sails  finely.  A straight  course  for  Teneriffe 

would  soon  be  giving  us  a sight  of  the  peak.^^ 

“ Ye  and  the  lady ^11  ha'  seen  enough,  1 allow,  by  this  toime 
to  make  ye  both  want  to  get  home,^^  said  Abraham.  “ Is 
there  e^er  a seafaring  man  who  could  tell  of  such  a procession 
of  smothering  jobs  all  a-treading  on  each  other^s  hems?  Fust 
the  loss  of  the  ‘ Hayneen  ^ (meaning  the  ‘ Anine  ^),  then  the 
raft,  then  the  foundering  of  tho  ‘ Airly  Marn,^  then  the  feed- 


DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


S2B 

ing  of  Mussulmen  with  pork,  then  the  skipper — as  was  a proper 
gentleman,  tew— a-f ailing  in  love  and  afterwards  being  mur- 
dered, then  that  there  fire,  and  now  this  here  boat — and  all 
for  what?  Not  a blooming  penny  to  come  out  of  the  whole 
boiling  And  his  temper  giving  way,  down  went  his  cap 
again,  and  he  jumped  to  his  feet  with  a thirsty  look  astern; 
but  fortunately  by  this  time  the  bark  was  out  of  sight,  other- 
wise there  is  no  doubt  we  should  have  been  regaled  with  another 
half  hour  of  ^longshore  lamentation  and  invective. 

The  breeze  held  steady,  and  the  boat  swept  through  as 
though  she  were  in  tow  of  a steamer.  The  sun  sunk,  the 
western  hectic  perished,  and  over  our  heads  was  spread  the 
high  night  of  hovering  silver  with  much  meteoric  dust  sailing 
amid  the  luminaries,  and  in  the  south-east  stood  the  moon,  in 
whose  light  the  fabric  of  the  boat  and  her  canvas  looked  as 
though  formed  of  ivory.  We  had  brough  a|buirs-eye  lamp 
with  us,  and  this  we  lighted  that  we  might  tell  how  to  steer 
by  a small  compass  which  Abraham  had  taken  from  the  cap- 
tain^s  cabin.  We  made  as  fair  a meal  as  our  little  stock  of 
provisions  would  yield,  sitting  in  the  moonshine  eating  and 
talking,  dwelling  much  upon  the  incidents  of  the  day,  especially 
on  the  subtlety  of  the  Malays,  with  occasional  speculation  on 
what  yet  lay  before  us;  and  again  and  again  one  after  another 
of  us  would  rise  to  see  if  there  was  anything  in  sight  in  the 
pale  hazy  blending  of  the  ocean  rim  with  the  sky,  which  the 
moon  as  it  soared  flooded  with  her  light. 

To  recount  the  passage  of  those  favours  would  be  merely  to 
retrace  our  steps  in  this  narrative.  It  was  a tedious  course  of 
dozing,  of  watching,  of  whispering.  At  times  I would  start 
with  the  conviction  that  it  was  a ship^s  light  my  eyes  had  fast- 
ened upon  out  in  the  silvery  obscure,  but  never  did  it  prove 
more  than  a star  or  some  phosphorescent  sparkling  in  the  eye 
itself,  as  often  happens  in  a gaze  that  is  much  strained  and 
long  vigilant. 

It  was  some  time  before  five  o’clock  in  the  morning  that  I 
was  startled  from  what  was  more  a trance  of  weariness  than  of 
restful  slumber  by  a shout: 

‘‘Here’s  something  coming  at  last!”  cried  the  hoarse  voice 
of  Abraham. 

The  moon  was  gone,  but  the  starlight  made  the  dark  very 
clear  and  fine,  and  no  sooner  had  I directed  my  eyes  astern 
than  I spied  a steamer’s  light.  The  triangle  of  red,  green, 
and  white  seemed  directly  in  our  wake,  and  so  light  was  the 
breeze  and  so  still  the  surface  of  the  ocean  that  the  pulsing  of 
the  engines,  with  the  respiratory  splashing  of  the  water  frcm 


su 


Mir  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


the  exhaust-pipe,  penetrated  the  ear  as  distinctly  as  the  tick 
of  a watch  held  close. 

Flash  the  bulFs-eye,  Jacob,^^  shouted  Abraham,  “ or  sheMl 
be  a-cutting  of  us  down!^^ 

The  fellow  sprung  into  the  stern-sheets  and  flourished  the 
light. 

“ Now  sing  out  altogether,  when  I count  three,^^  cried  Abra- 
ham again,  “ ‘ Ship  ahoy!^  to  make  one  word  of  it.  Now  then 
— wan,  tew,  threeP^  We  united  our  voices  in  a hurricane  yell 
of  “ Ship  ahoyP^ 

“ Again!^^ 

Once  more  we  delivered  the  shout,  with  such  a note  in  it  as 
could  only  come  from  lungs  made  tempestuous  by  fear  and 
desire  of  preservation.  Six  or  seven  times  did  we  thus  hail 
that  approaching  lump  of  shadow,  defined  by  its  triangle  of 
sparks,  and  in  the  intervals  of  our  cries  Jacob  vehemently 
flourished  the  bulFs-eye  lamp. 

Suddenly  the  green  light  disappeared. 

“Ha!  She  sees  us!^^  exclaimed  Abraham. 

The  sound  of  pulsing  ceased,  and  then  with  a swiftness  due 
to  the  atmospheric  illusion  of  the  gloom,  but  that,  neverthe- 
less, seemed  incredible  in  a vessell  whose  engines  had  stopped, 
the  great  mass  of  shadow  came  shaping  and  forming  itself  out 
within  her  own  length  of  us  into  the  aspect  of  a large  brig- 
rigged  steamer,  dark  as  the  tomb  along  the  length  of  her  hull, 
but  with  a stream  of  lamp-light  touching  her  bridge,  from 
which  came  a clear  strong  hail: 

“ Boat  ahoy!  What  is  wrong  with  you?^' 

“ We’re  adrift,  and  want  ye  to  pick  us  up!”  roared  Abra- 
ham. “ Stand  by  to  give  us  the  end  of  a line!”  • 

Within  five  minutes  the  boat,  with  sail  down  and  mast  un- 
stepped, was  alongside  the  motionless  steamer,  and  ten  minutes 
later  she  was  veering  astern  and  the  four  of  us,  with  such  few 
articles  as  we  had  to  hand  up,  safe  aboard,  the  engines  champ- 
ing, the  bow-wave  seething,  and  the  commander  of  the  vessel 
asking  us  for  our  story. 

On  the  morning  of  Saturday  the  18th  of  November,  the 
bi  igged-rigged  steamer  “ Mosquito,”  from  the  west  coast  of 
Africa  for  London,  stopped  her  engines  and  came  to  a stand 
off  the  port  of  Falmouth,  to  put  Helga  and  me  ashore  at  that 
town  by  the  aid  of  a little  west-country  smack  which  had  been 
spoken  and  now  lay  alongside. 

^J'ho  English  coast  should  have  been  abreast  of  us  days  earlier 
than  this;  but  very  shortly  after  the  “ Mosquito  ” had  picked 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


825 


us  up  sonielhing  went  wrong  in  her  engine-room;  our  passage 
to  Madeira  was  so  slow  as  to  be  little  more  than  a dull  and 
tedious  crawling  over  the  waters;  and  we  were  delayed  for  some 
considerable  time  at  Funchal  while  the  chief  engineer  aiid  his 
assistants  got  the  engines  into  a condition  to  drive  the  great 
metal  hull  to  her  destination. 

But  now  the  two  bold  headlands  of  the  fair  coast  of  Fal- 
mouth“-the  tenderest,  most  gem-like  bit  of  scenery,  I do  hon- 
estly believe,  not  that  England  only,  but  that  this  whole  great 
world  of  rich  and  varied  pictures  has  to  show — lay  plain  in  our 
eyes.  Streaks  of  snow  upon  the  heights  shone  like  virgin 
silver  in  the  crisp  brilliant  November  sun  of  that  wintery  Chan- 
nel morning,  and  betwixt  the  headlands  the  hills  beyond  showed 
in  masses  of  a milk-white  softness  poised  cloud-like  in  the  keen 
blue  distance,  as  though  by  watching  you  would  see  them  soar. 

I thanked  the  captain  heartily  for  his  kindness,  and  then, 
standing  in  the  gangway  with  my  sweetheart  at  my  side,  I 
asked  for  Abraham  and  Jacob  that  we  might  bid  them  fare- 
well. The  worthy  fellows,  endeared  to  me  by  the  association 
of  peril  bravely  met  and  happily  passed,  promptly  arrived.  I 
pulled  out  the  money  that  I had  taken  from  Mr.  Joneses  berth, 
and  said:  ‘‘Here  are  thirteen  pounds  and  some  shillings, 
Abraham,  which  belonged  to  that  poor  mate  whom  the  Malays 
killed.  Here  is  half  the  amount  for  you  and  Jacob;  the  other 
half  will  carry  Miss  Nielsen  and  me  to  Tintrenale.  You  need 
not  scruple  to  take  it.  I will  make  inquiries  if  the  poor  creat- 
ure had  any  relatives,  and,  if  1 can  hear  of  them,  the  money 
will  be  repaid.  And  now  you  will  both  of  you  remember  a 
promise  1 made  to  you  aboard  the  ‘Early  Morn.^  Let  me 
have  your  addresses  at  Deal;^^  for  they  were  proceeding  to  the 
Downs  in  the  steamer. 

They  told  me  where  they  lived.  1 then  extended  my  hand. 

“ God  bless  you  both!^^  1 said.  “ 1 shall  never  forget  you!"^ 
And  indeed  more  than  that  1 could  not  have  said  at  the  mo- 
ment, for  my  throat  tightened  when  I looked  into  their  honest 
faces  and  thought  how  Helga  and  1 owed  our  lives  to  them. 

It  was  a hearty  farewell  among  the  four  of  us;  much  hand- 
shaking and  God-blessing  of  one  another,  and  when  we  had  enter- 
ed the  smack  and  shoved  off,  the  two  poor  fellows  got  upon  the 
bulwark  rail  and  cheered  us  again  and  again,  with  such  contor- 
tions of  form  and  violence  of  gesture  that  1 feared  to  see  them 
fall  overboard.  But  the  steamer  was  now  in  motion,  and  in  a 
very  little  while  the  two  figures  w^ere  indistinguishable.  I have 
never  seen  them  since;  yet,  as  I write  these  words  and  think 
of  them,  my  heart  is  full;  if  they  be  living  1 earnestly  hope 


326 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


they  are  well  and  doing  well;  and  if  these  lines  meet  their  eye 
they  will  know  that  the  heartiest  of  hearty  welcomes  awaili 
them  whenever  they  shall  find  themselves  near  my  little 
Cornish  home. 

The  18th  was  a Saturday,  and  I made  up  my  mind  to  stay 
throughout  Sunday  at  Falmouth,  that  I might  have  time  to 
receive  a line  from  Mr.  Trembath,  to  whom  my  first  business 
must  be  to  send  news  of  my  safe  return,  that  he  might  deliver 
it  with  all  caution  to  my  mother;  for  it  was  not  to  be  foreseen 
how  a sudden  shock  of  joy  might  serve  her.  So  we  were  no 
sooner  ashore  than  I wrote  to  Mr.  Trembath,  and  then  Helga 
and  1 quitted  the  hotel  to  make  some  purchases,  taking  care 
to  reserve  enough  money  to  pay  our  traveling  expenses  home. 

Next  morning  we  went  to  church,  and,  kneeling  side  by  side, 
we  offered  up  the  thanks  of  our  deeply  grateful  hearts  for  our 
preservation  from  the  many  dark  and  deadly  perils  we  had 
encountered  and  for  our  restoration,  sound  in  health  and  limb, 
to  a land  we  had  often  talked  of  and  had  as  often  feared  we 
should  never  again  behold. 

It  was  a quiet  holiday  with  us  afterward:  a brief  passage  of 
hours  whose  happiness  was  alloyed  only  by  anxiety  to  get 
news  of  my  mother.  Our  love  for  each  other  was  true  and 
deep— how  true  and  how  deep  I am  better  able  to  know  now 
than  1 did  then,  before  time  had  tested  the  metal  of  our  hearts. 
I was  proud  of  my  Danish  sweetheart,  of  her  heroic  nature,  of 
her  ‘many  endearing  qualities  of  tenderness,  goodness,  simple 
piety,  of  her  girlish  gentleness  of  character,  which,  in  the  hour 
of  trial  and  danger,  could  harden  into  the  courage  of  the  lioness 
without  loss,  as  I knew,  of  the  sweetness  and  the  bloom  of  her 
maidenhood.  1 felt,  too,  she  was  mine  in  a sense  novel  indeed 
in  the  experience  of  love-making:  1 mean,  by  the  right  of 
having  saved  her  life,  of  plucking  her,  as  it  were,  out  of  the 
fury  of  the  sea;  for  we  were  both  very  conscious  that,  but  for 
my  having  been  aboard  the  ‘‘  Anine,^^  she  must  have  perished, 
incapable  of  leaving  her  dying  father  even  had  she  been  able 
with  her  girl’s  hands  alone  to*  save  herself,  as  between  us  we 
had  saved  ourselves. 

But  not  to  dwell  upon  this,  nor  to  recount  our  walks  on  that 
quiet  November  Sabbath  day,  our  exquisite  and  impassioned 
enjoyment  of  the  scenes  and  sights  and  aromas  of  this  favored 
space  of  land  after  our  many  privations  and  after  the  sicken- 
ing iteration  of  the  ocean  girdle,  flawless  for  days  and  making 
our  sight  ache  with  gazing  and  with  expectation:  not  to  dwell 


KT  DANISH  SWEETHEART, 


327 


bath.  My  mother  was  well— he  had  told  her  1 was  at  Falmouth 
— 1 was  to  come  to  her  without  delay.  It  was  a long  letter, 
full  of  congratulations,  of  astonishment,  but — my  mother  was 
well!  She  knew  I was  at  Falmouth!  All  the  rest  was  idle 
words  to  my  happiness,  full  of  news  as  the  letter  was,  too. 
Helga  laughed  and  cried  and  kissed  me,  and  an  hour  later  we 
were  in  a railway  carriage  on  our  way  to  Tintrenale. 

On  our  arri\ral  we  immediately  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Trembath.  We  were  on  foot,  and  on  our  way  from  the  rail- 
way station,  as  we  turned  the  corner  of  the  hilly  road  that 
led  to  the  town,  the  whole  view  of  the  spacious  bay  opened 
upon  our  eyes.  We  instantly  stopped,  and  1 grasped  Helga’s 
hand  while  we  stood  looking,  it  was  a keen  bright  blue 
morning,  the  air  of  a frosty,  of  an  almost  prismatic  brilliance 
of  purity  owing  to  the  shining  ranges  of  snow  upon  the  slopes 
and  downs  of  the  headlands  of  the  cliffs.  The  Twins  and  the 
Deadlow  Eock  showed  their  black  fangs  with  a recurrent  flash 
of  light  as  the  sun  smote  them  while  wet  from  the  lift  of  the 
swell  that  was  rolling  into  the  bay. 

Yonder  is  where  the  ‘ Anine  ^ brought  up.  Oh!  Helga, 
do  you  remember?^  ^ 

; She  answered  me  by  caressing  my  shoulder  with  her  cheek. 

White  gulls  were  hovering  off  the  pier.  To  the  right  was 
the  life-boat  house  out  of  which  we  had  launched  on  that  dark 
and  desperate  night  of  October  21st.  The  weather-cock 
crowning  the  tall  spire  of  St.  Saviour^s  was  glowing  like  gilt 
in  the  blue.  Far  off,  at  the  foot  of  Hurricane  Point,  was  the 
bloudy  glimmer  of  boiling  water,  the  seething  of  the  Atlantic 
fold  recoiling  from  the  giant  base.  A smart  little  schooner  lay 
half  a mile  out  on  a line  with  the  pier,  and,  as  she  rolled,  her 
cop^r  glistened  ruddily  upon  the  dark-blue  surface.  Sounds 
of  life  arose  from  the  town;  the  ringing  of  bells,  the  rattling 
bf  vehicles,  the  cries  of  the  hawker. 

I “ Come,  my  darling!^^  said  I,  and  we  proceeded. 

I 1 shall  never  forget  the  look  of  astonishment  with  which 
Pilr.  Trembath  received  us.  We  were  shown  into  his  study — 
bis  servant  was  a new  hand  and  did  not  know  me;  she  ad- 
mitted us  as  a brace  of  parishioners,  1 dare  say.  “ Great 
peaven!  it  is  Hugh  Tregarthen!^^  he  cried,  starting  out  of  his 
chair  as  though  a red-hot  iron  had  been  applied  to  him.  He 
wrung  both  my  hands,  overwhelming  me  with  exclamations. 
1 could  not  speak.  He  gave  me  no  opportunity  to  introduce 
Helga.  Indeed,  he  did  not  seem  sensible  of  her  presence. 

’ “ Alive,  after  all!  A resurrection  in  good  faith!  What  a 
night  it  was,  d^ye  remember?  Ha!  hal"^  he  cried,  clinging 


338 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


to  my  hands  and  staring,  with  the  wildest  carnestncrsa  of  ex- 
pression, into  my  face,  while  his  eyes  danced  with  congratula- 
tion and  gratification.  “We  gave  you  up.  You  ought  to  bo 
dead — not  a doubt  of  it!  No  young  fellow  should  return  to  life 
who  has  been  mourned  for  as  you  were!^^  Thus  he  rattled  on, 

“But  my  mother — my  mother,  Mr.  Trembath!  How  is 
my  mother?^^ 

“ Well,  well,  perfectly  well — looking  out  for  you.  Why 
are  you  not  with  her  instead  of  with  mer  But  to  whom  am  I 
talking — to  Hugh  Tregarthen^s  ghost?^^ 

Here  his  eyes  went  to  Helga,  and  his  face  underwent  a 
change. 

“ This  young  lady  is  a friend  of  yours?^^  and  he  gave  her  an 
odd  sort  of  puzzling,  inquisitive  bow. 

“ If  you  will  give  me  leave,  Mr.  Trembath.  I have  not  yet 
had  a chance.  First  let  me  introduce  you  to  Miss  Helga  Niel- 
sen, my  betrothed — the  young  lady  who  before  long  will  be 
Mrs.  Hugh  Tregarthen,  so  named  by  your  friendly  offices. 

He  peered  at  me  to  see  if  I was  joking,  then  stepped  up  to 
her,  extended  his  hand,  and  courteously  greeted  her.  Sweet 
the  dear  heart  looked  as  she  stood  with  her  hand  in  his,  smil- 
ing and  blushing,  her  blue  eyes  filled  with  emotion,  that  dark- 
ened them  to  the  very  complexion  of  tears,  and  that  made  . 
them  the  prettier  for  the  contrast  of  their  expression  with  her 
smile. 

“ My  dear  mother  being  well,^^  said  I,  “ the  delay  of  a quar- 
ter of  an  hour  can  signify  nothing.  Let  us  seat  ourselves  that  , 
I may  briefly  tell  you  my  story  and  explain  how  it  happens 
that  Helga  and  I are  here  instead  of  going  straight  to  my 
home. 

He  composed  himself  to  listen,  and  I began.  1 gave  him  our  : 
adventures  from  the  hour  of  my  boarding  the  “ Anine,^^  and  • 
I observed  that  as  I talked  he  incessantly  glanced  at  Helga  • 
with  looks  of  growing  respect,  satisfaction,  and  pleasura 

“ Now,^^  said  I,  when  I had  brought  my  narrative  down  to 
the  time  of  our  being  picked  up  by  the  “ Mosquito,^^  never 
suffering  his  repeated  exclamations  of  amazement,  his  frequent 
starts  and  questions,  to  throw  me  off  the  straight  course  of  my 
recital,  “ my  wish  is  to  see  my  mother  alone,  and  when  I 
have  had  about  an  hour  with  her  1 want  you  to  bring  Helga  : 
to  our  home. 

“I  quite  understand,^^  he  exclaimed:  “a  complication  of  ; 
surprises  would  certainly  be  undesirable.  You  will  prepare  ^ 
the  way,  I shall  know  how  to  congratulate  her.  I shall  be 
able  to  speak  from  my  heart,^^  said  he,  smiling  at  Ilelga. 


MY  Danish  sweetheart.  329 

One  question,  Mr.  Trembath.  What  of  my  poor  life- 
boat^s  crew?^^ 

“Three  of  them  were  drowned/^  he  answered;  “ the  rest 
came  ashore  alive  in  their  belts.  It  was  a very  astonishing 
preservation.  The  gale  shifted  and  blew  in  a hurricane  off 
the  land,  as  of  course  you  remember;  yet  the  drive  of  the 
seas  stranded  the  survivors  down  upon  the  southern  end  of  the 
esplanade.  They  were  all  washed  in  together — a most  extra- 
ordinary occurrence,  as  though  they  had  been  secured  by  short 
lengths  of  line.^^ 

“ And  they  are  all  well?^^ 

“ All.  Poor  Bobby  Tucker  and  Lance  Hudson  were  almost 
spent,  almost  gone;  but  there  was  a preventive  man  standing 
close  by  the  spot  to  where  the  sea  washed  them ; he  rushed 
away  for  help;  they  were  carried  to  their  homes — and  what  a 
story  they  had  to  tell!  The  poor  Danes  who  had  jumped  into 
the  boat  were  drowned  to  a man.^^ 

Helga  clasped  her  hands,  and  whispered  some  exclamation 
in  Danish  to  herself. 

I sat  for  another  five  minutes,  and  then  rose  with  a signifi- 
: cant  look  at  the  clock,  that  Mr.  Trembath  might  remember  my 
sweetheart  was  not  to  be  absent  from  me  for  more  than  an 
: hour.  I then  kissed  her  and  left  the  house,  and  made  my  way 
to  my  mother ^s  home. 

It  was  but  a short  step,  yet  it  took  me  a long  while  to  reach 
the  door.  I believe  I was  stopped  at  least  ten  times.  Tintre- 
; nale  is  a little  place;  the  ripple  of  a bit  of  news  dropped  into 
: that  small  pool  swiftly  spreads  to  the  narrow  boundaries  of  it, 
and,  though  Mr.  Trembath  had  only  heard  from  me  on  the 
; preceding  day,  the  whole  town  knew  that  I was  alive,  that  1 
was  at  Falmouth,  that  I was  on  my  way  home.  But  for  this 
I might  have  been  stared  at  as  a ghost,  and  have  nimbly  stepped 
^ past  faces  turned  in  dumb  astonishment  upon  me.  Now  1 had 
’ to  shake  hands;  now  I had  to  answer  questions,  breaking  away 
with  what  grace  I could. 

When  I reached  my  home  there  was  no  need  to  knock.  My 
dear  mother  was  at  the  window,  and,  to  judge  from  the  celerity 
with  which  the  door  flew  open,  she  had  stationed  a servant  in 
the  hall  ready  to  admit  me  at  her  first  cry. 

“ Dear  mother 

“ My  darling  child 

She  strained  me  to  her  heart  in  silence.  My  throat  was 
swelled,  and  she  could  not  speak  for  weeping.  But  tears  of 
rejoicing  are  soon  dried,  and  in  a few  minutes  I was  on  the 
sofa  at  her  side,  our  hands  locked. 


330 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


In  the  first  hurry  and  joy  of  such  a meeting  as  this  much 
will  be  said  that  the  memory  can  not  carry.  There  was  a score 
of  questions  to  answer  and  put,  none  of  which  had  any  refer- 
ence whatever  to  my  strange  experiences.  She  was  looking 
somewhat  thin  and  worn,  as  though  fretting  had  grown  into 
a habit  which  she  could  not  easily  shake  off.  Her  snow-white 
hair,  her  dear  old  face,  her  dim  eyes,  in  which  lay  a heart- 
light  of  holy,  reverent  exultation,  the  trembling  fingers  with 
which  she  caressed  my  hair — the  homely  little  parlor,  too,  with 
the  dance  of  the  fire-play  in  the  shady  corners  of  the  room,  its 
twenty  details  of  pictures,  sideboard — I know  not  what  else — 
all  my  life  familiar  to  me,  upon  which,  indeed,  the  eyes  of  my 
boyhood  first  opened — I found  it  as  hard  to  believe  that  I 
was  in  my  old  home  again  at  last,  that  my  mother’s  voice 
was  sounding  in  my  ear — that  it  was  her  beloved  hand  which 
toyed  with  my  hair — as  at  times  I had  found  it  hard  to  be- 
lieve that  I was  at  sea,  floating  helplessly  aboard  a tiny  raft 
under  the  stars. 

‘‘Mother,  did  you  receive  the  message  that  was  written 
upon  a board,  and  read  by  the  people  of  the  Cape  steamer 
homeward  bound?” 

“ Yes,  four  days  ago,  but  only  four  days  ago,  Hugh!  1 be- 
lieved I should  never  see  you  again,  my  child!” 

“ Well,  thank  God  it  is  well  with  us  both — ay,  well  with 
three  of  us,”  said  1;  “ the  third  presently  to  be  as  precious  in 
this  little  home,  mother,  as  ever  a one  of  us  that  has  slept  be- 
neath its  roof.  ” 

“ W hat  is  this  you  are  saying?^^  she  exclaimed. 

“ Be  composed  and  give  me  your  ear  and  follow  me  in  the 
adventures  I am  going  to  relate  to  you,”  said  I,  pulling  out 
my  watch  and  looking  at  it. 

My  words  would  readily  account  for  her  perceiving  some- 
thing in  my  mind  of  a significance  quite  outside  that  of  my  ad- 
ventures; but  the  instincts  of  the  mother  went  further  than 
that;  I seemed  to  catch  a look  in  her  as  though  she  half  guessed 
at  what  1 must  later  on  tell  her.  It  was  an  expression  of 
mingled  alarm  and  remonstrance,  almost  as  aiiticipative  as 
though  she  had  spoken.  God  knows  why  it  was  she  should 
thus  suggest  that  she  had  lighted  upon  what  was  still  a secret 
to  her,  seeing,  as  one  might  suppose,  that  the  very  last  notion 
which  would  occur  to  her  was  tW  1 had  found  a sweetheart 
out  upon  the  ocean  in  these  few  weeks  of  my  absence  from 
home.  Ihit  there  is  a subtile  quality  in  the  blood  of  those 
closely  related  which  will  interpret  to  the  instincts  as  though 
the  eye  had  the  power  of  exploring  the  recesses  of  the  hearty  ^ 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


331 


I began  my  story.  As  briefly  as  I might,  for  there  was  no 
longer  an  hour  before  me,  I related  my  adventures  step  by 
step.  1 had  only  to  pronounce  the  girFs  name  to  witness  the 
little  movement  of  jealousy  and  suspicion  hardening  in  the 
compressed  lips  and  graver  attention  of  the  dear  old  soul.  I 
had  much  to  say  of  Helga.  In  truth,  my  story  was  nearly  all 
about  Helga:  her  devotion  to  her  father,  her  marvelous  spirit 
in  the  direst  extremity,  her  pious  resignation  to  the  stroke 
that  had  made  her  an  orphan.  I put  before  my  mother  a picture 
of  the  raft,  the  starlit  gloom  of  the  night,  the  dying  man 
with  his  wife^s  portrait  in  his  hand.  I told  her  of  Helga^s 
heroic  struggle  with  her  anguish  of  bereavement,  her  posture 
of  praver  as  I launched  the  corpse,  her  prayer  again  in  the 
little  forepeak  of  the  lugger  where  the  dim  lantern  faintly 
disclosed  the  picture  of  her  mother,  before  which  the  sweet 
heart  knelt.  My  love  for  her,  my  pride  in  her  were  in  my 
face  as  I spoke;  I felt  the  warm  blood  in  my  cheek,  and  emo- 
tion made  my  poor  words  eloquent. 

• Sometimes  my  mother  would  break  out  with  an  exclamation 
of  wonder  or  admiration,  sometimes  she  would  give  a sigh  of 
sympathy;  tears  stood  in  her  eyes  while  1 was  telling  her  of 
the  poor  Danish  captain^s  death  and  of  Helga  kneeling  in 
prayer  in  the  little  forepeak.  When  1 had  made  an  end,  she 
gazed  earnestly  at  me  for  some  moments  in  silence,  and  then 
^id: 

i “ Hugh,  where  is  she?^^ 

“At  Mr.  Trembath^s!^^ 

; “ She  is  in  Tintrenale?^^ 

“At  Mr.  Trembath^s,  mother. 

; “ Why  did  you  not  bring  her  here?^* 

“ I wished  to  break  the  news. 

“ But  she  is  your  friend,  Hugh.  She  was  a good  daughter, 
and  she  is  a go^  girl.  1 must  love  her  for  that.^^ 

. 1 kissed  her.  “You  will  love  her  when  you  see  her.  You  ; 
will  love  her  more  and  more  as  you  know  her  better  and  bet-  ‘ 
|;er.  She  is  to  be  my  wife.  Oh,  mother,  you  wiU  welcome  her 
^you  will  take  her  to  your  heart,  so  friendless  as  she  is  and  so 
poor;  so  tender  too,  so  gentle,  so  affectionate?^^ 
i She  sat  musing  awhile,  playing  with  her  fingers.  That  col- 
oring of  suspicion,  of  a mother’s  jealousy,  which  I have  spoken 
of,  had  yielded  to  my  tale.  She  was  thinking  earnestly,  and 
with  an  expression  of  kindness. 

“ You  are  young  to  marry,  HughF^ 

“ No,  no,  motherr* 


332 


MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART. 


“ She  is  very  young  too.  We  are  poor,  dear;  and  she  has 
nothing,  you  tell  me.^^ 

“ She  is  one  of  those  girls,  mother,  who  have  nothing,  yet 
have  all."" 

She  smiled,  and  stroked  my  hand,  and  then  turned  her  head 
as  though  in  a reverie,  and  fixed  her  eyes  for  a little  space 
upon  my  father"s  picture. 

“ We  know  nothing  of  her  parents,""  said  she. 

“She  has  her  mother"s  portrait.  It  tells  its  own  story. 
We  know  who  and  what  her  father  was.  But  you  shall  ques- 
tion her,  mother.  I see  her  kneeling  at  your  side  telling  you 
her  little  life  history."" 

At  this  moment  the  house-door  knocker  was  set  chattering 
by  a hand  that  I very  well  knew  could  belong  to  no  other  man 
than  Mr.  Trembath.  I was  too  impatient  to  await  the  attend- 
ance of  the  servant,  and  rushing  to  the  door  brought  Helga 
into  the  parlor.  The  clergyman  followed,  and  as  Helga  stood 
in  the  door-way  he  peered  over  her  shoulder  at  my  mother. 
The  dear  girl  was  pale  and  nervous,  yet  sweet  and  fresh  and 
fair  beyond  words  did  she  look,  and  my  heart  leaped  up  in  my 
breast  to  the  instant  thought  that  my  mother  could  not  see 
her  without  being  won. 

The  pause  was  but  for  a moment;  my  mother  rose  and 
looked  at  the  girl.  It  was  a swift,  penetrating  gaze,  that  van- 
ished in  a fine,  warm,  cordial  smile. 

“ Welcome  to  our  little  home,  Helga!""  said  she,  and  step- 
ping up  to  her  she  took  her  by  the  hands,  kissed  her  on  both 
cheeks,  and  drew  her  to  the  sofa. 

“Well,  good-bye  for  the  present,  Hugh,""  exclaimed  Mr. 
Trembath. 

“ I will  acccompany  you,""  said  I. 

“ No,""  cried  my  mother,  “ stay  here,  Hugh!  This  is  your 
proper  place,""  and  she  motioned  for  me  to  sit  beside  her. 

Mr.  Trembath,  with  a friendly  nod,  disappeared. 

:)c  )ic  ^ He  ^ 

My  story  comes  to  an  end  as  the  worthy  little  clergyman 
closes  the  door  upon  the  three  of  us.  When  I sat  down  to 
this  work,  I designed  no  more  than  the  recital  of  the  advent- 
ures of  a month;  and  now  I put  down  my  pen  very  well  satisfied 
that  I leave  you  who  have  followed  me  in  no  doubt  as  to  the 
issue  of  He]ga"8  introduction  to  my  mother,  though  it  would 
go  beyond  my  scheme  to  say  more  on  that  head.  I found  a 
sweetheart  at  sea,  and  made  her  my  wife  ashore,  and  a time 
came  when  my  mother  was  as  proud  of  her  Danish  daughter 
as  1 was  of  my  Danish  bride. 


MY  MKlSfi  SWBElHEARt. 


383 


There  had  been  much  talk  between  Helga  and  me,  when  we 
were  on  the  ocean,  of  our  going  to  Kolding;  but  down  to  the 
present  time  we  have  not  visited  that  place.  Her  friends  there 
are  few,  and  the  journey  a long  one;  yet  we  are  constantly 
talking  of  making  an  excursion  to  Copenhagen,  and  the  mere 
fancy,  perhaps,  gives  us  as  much  pleasure  as  the  trip  itself 
would.  Through  the  friendly  offices  of  the  Danish  vice-consul 
at  Falmouth  we  were  enabled  to  realize  upon  the  poor  few 
effects  which  Captain  Nielsen  had  left  behind  him  in  his  little 
house  at  Kolding,  and  we  also  obtained  payment  of  the  money 
for  which  he  had  insured  his  own  venture  in  the  freight  that 
had  foundered. 

There  were  moments  when  I would  think  with  regret  of  the 
“Light  of  the  World. No  doubt,  could  •we  have  brought 
her  to  England  or  to  a port,  our  share  of  the  salvage  would 
have  made  a little  dowry  for  Helga,  for,  though  1 had  not 
seen  the  vesseFs  papers,  I might  reasonably  suppose  the  value 
of  the  cargo,  added  to  that  of  the  bark  itself,  amounted  to 
several  thousands  of  pounds,  and,  as  there  were  but  four  to 
share,  Helga^s  and  my  di  vision  would  not  have  failed  to  yield 
us  a good  round  sum. 

And  what  was  the  end  of  that  ship?  I have  heard  the 
story:  it  found  its  way  into  the  newspapers,  but  in  brief,  in- 
sufficient paragraphs  only.  The  whole  narrative  of  her  advent- 
ures after  we  had  been  tricked  out  of  her  by  her  colored  crew 
is  one  of  the  strangest  romances  of  the  sea  that  my  experience 
has  encountered,  student  as  I am  of  maritime  affairs.  Some 
of  these  days  I may  hope  to  tell  the  story;  but  for  the  present 
you  will  consider  that  I have  said  enough. 


TUB  WD 


